MOSCOW, March 18. /TASS/. As of 8:30 a.m. Moscow time (5:30 a.m. GMT - TASS), an unprecedented number of 372,779 people have taken part in the Russian presidential election overseas, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told the Channel One television.

"That’s certainly an unprecedented figure. <...> According to preliminary information, as of 8:30 a.m. Moscow time, 372,779 people cast their ballot in the election [abroad], and the figure is not final," the Russian diplomat said.

According to Zakharova, there was "a huge turnout" at certain polling stations, caused, among other things, by "a range of consulates general being closed."

The Russian presidential election was held on March 15-17, with a voter turnout beating the 2018 record. According to data posted on the Russian Central Election Commission’s website, the incumbent Russian leader, Putin, scored 87.32% of the vote, with 99.43% of ballots counted. Running in second is Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) nominee Nikolay Kharitonov (4.28%), followed by New People party nominee Vladislav Davankov with 3.79% of the vote and Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) nominee Leonid Slutsky (3.19%).