3.5 billion roubles allocated for State Duma elections

Russia's Finance Ministry has transferred to the accounts of the Central Election Committee 3.5 billion roubles (30.6 roubles equal 1 dollar) to prepare and hold elections of State Duma deputies, CEC head Alexander Veshnyakov said on Thursday. According to him, this sum was stipulated in the federal budget.

The elections are set for December 7.

Veshnyakov said that this year, under the new election legislation, the election campaign is shortened by almost 30 per cent and will last 3 months and 4 days.

The sum allocated for a campaign to elect a Russian president is 4.5 billion roubles, the head of the Russian Central Election Committee said. The ballot will be held in the spring of next year. According to Veshnyakov, this sum will be transferred to the Central Election Committee in the middle of December, when the election campaign kicks off.