Putin's entry on Duma electoral list not a law violation

Moscow, Oct 3 (UNI) Russian Central Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov today denied that President Vladimir Putin's entry on the United Russia party's parliamentary electoral list was a violation of election law.

''I do not see a violation of the law or deceit in this.

Further comments is something political scientists must provide,'' he told journalists in St Petersburg.

''Each party is free to decide whether to fully leave the federal group vacant in the federal list, or to enter one, two, or three candidates on it,''Interfax news agency quoted Mr Churov as saying.

The pro-Kremlin United Russia party has nominated Putin as the only leader on the federal party list, abandoning the 'leading troika' practice.

Mr Putin, whose term expires in March next year after two consecutive terms, agreed on Monday to lead the party into the December parliamentary elections.

The one-leader proposal, made by the party's General Council yesterday at the United Russia party congress, was backed by 476 votes out of 503.

Andrei Vorobyov, head of the party's Central Executive Committee, said United Russia was planning to submit a federal list, comprising 600 candidates, to the Central Election Commission on October 4.

The congress also approved regional lists of party candidates.

Party leader Boris Gryzlov heads the regional list for St Petersburg, followed by the city Governor, Valentina Matviyenko, a close ally of the Russian President.

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov represents the Russian capital on the United Russia party regional list UNI