MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has received notifications on congresses to nominate presidential candidates from 17 political parties and letters about holding meetings in support of 19 independent candidates, CEC Chairperson Ella Pamfilova said on Friday.

"As of midday, notifications have been received about congresses from 17 political parties. Of these, seven parties have already held their congresses," she said at the committee’s meeting.

According to Pamfilova, the CEC also received notifications about voters’ meetings to support 19 self-nominated (or independent) candidates.

She noted that the commission’s members have to work to a tight schedule now. "There will be as many as seven [congresses] on Saturday," she explained.

The CEC earlier said it had received 34 notifications about congresses and voter groups’ meetings.