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Overall candidates’ spending on election campaign exceeds 1,500 million roubles

The minimal “cost” per one vote was 8.7 roubles and was demonstrated by the winner of the presidential race, Vladimir Putin

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

MOSCOW, May 12 (Itar-Tass) —— All the five candidates for Russian president spent a total of 1.552 billion roubles for canvassing campaign, deputy chairman of the Russian Central Election Commission Stanislav Vavilov said on Saturday.

“Elections were costly for both the state and for candidates as well,” he said.

According to Vavilov, as many as 36.5 million roubles of this sum “were transferred to election funds in violation of the established procedure and were returned or transferred to the state budget.”

Candidates’ personal funds accounted for 5.4 percent of the election funds (81.6 million roubles). Political parties, which nominated their candidates for presidency, accounted for 49.3 percent (746.8 million roubles), contributions from citizens – 23.4 percent (354.8 million roubles), and legal entities – 21.9 percent (332.7 million roubles).

Election funds of two candidates, Vladimir Putin of the ruling United Russia party and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, a self-nominee, reached a maximum possible volume of 400 million roubles. Other candidates had election funds raging from 275 million roubles (Gennady Zyuganov of the Communist Party) to 137 million roubles (Sergei Mironov of the A Just Russia party).

“All the candidates spent their funds almost completely,” Vavilov said and added that all of them reported their spending in due time.

The minimal “cost” per one vote was 8.7 roubles and was demonstrated by the winner of the presidential race, Vladimir Putin. The most “expensive” votes of 67.8 roubles were cast for Mikhail Prokhorov.

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