In the west to the far eastern Kuril Islands, Russians have begun casting their votes in the country's presidential election.
Local media says some 65 percent of the 109 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots in some 94 thousand domestic polling stations. Russians will also be able to vote at 384 overseas stations in more than 140 countries.
Video surveillance is being conducted at 91 thousand polling stations and over 1 million Internet users have registered to monitor the vote online. The Russian Interior Ministry says over 380 thousand police officers are on duty for election day.
Opinion polls show most voters are expected to support current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. But he may be forced into a second round contest if he gets less than 50 percent of the vote in the first round. The winner will be inaugurated as president in early May.

俄羅斯總理普京2日表示，如果當選總統(tǒng)，他將繼續(xù)推動改革，不會借機打壓反對派。總統(tǒng)選舉定于3月4日。民意調(diào)查結(jié)果顯示，普京有望贏得大約60％選票。普京稱，尚未決定是否角逐2018年總統(tǒng)選舉。