Moscow to Suppress Unauthorized Rallies in Election, RIA Says

Moscow police will not tolerate any “provocation” as Russians vote in presidential elections tomorrow, and will suppress any unauthorized rallies, RIA Novosti reported, citing police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev.

Internet social networks show that some activists may provoke people at polling stations by claiming the ballot count is unfair, Kolokoltsev said, state-run RIA reported. About 6,500 policemen from other regions arrived to Moscow to help maintain security in the Russian capital, the newswire said.

About 600,000 Russian citizens have registered on the government-sponsored Internet site to watch webcasts from polling stations to ascertain that the ballots are submitted and counted fairly, RIA Novosti said, citing the country’s Telecommunications Ministry.