Vladimir Putin to stand in 2004

Russian President Vladimir Putin is to stand again for the presidential elections in March 2004. After a successful two years since he was elected in 2002. Vladimir Putin has decided to fight for a second term.

Aleksandr Vechniakov, President of the Central Electoral Commission, declared yesterday that President Vladimir Putin is to stand for re-election as the president of the Russian Federation on 14th March, 2004, although there has as yet been no official confirmation of this decision.

Current opinion polls place Vladimir Putin in first place against any candidate, with between 70 and 80% of the vote. In second place is the Russian Communist Party leader, Ziuganov, with around 20%.

Timofei BYELO PRAVDA.Ru