(3 Mar 2012)
1. Various of huge screen showing webcam output from up to 90,000 voting stations across Russia, in Moscow's Chamber of Commerce which is being used as the Election 2012 International Information Centre
2. Mid of seated officials
3. Wide of large screen
4. Various close-ups of webcam video
5. Mid of people laughing in audience
6. Mid of gathered media crews
7. Mid of Russia's Minister of Communication and Mass Media, Igor Shchegolev in front of screen
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Igor Shchegolev, Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media:
"After the elections, of the parliamentary elections in December 4th in 2011, there were many allegations, there were some mishappenings, at some locations where the vote took place. So that's why the Prime Minister who is now running for the presidency suggested that we implemented this kind technology to give everyone the possibility in real time regime to follow what is going on."
9. Zoom in on web-cam shot in a voting station
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Igor Shchegolev, Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media:
"It takes 90,000 voting stations all over Russia. So 180,000 cameras. Two per each voting station. And here you can see in the real time what is going on all over Russia. Every and each voting station where such cameras are installed."
11. Shchegolev leaving Chamber of Commerce
STORYLINE:
Allegations of fraud in Russia's parliamentary elections last December have prompted the government to establish 180,000 web-cameras in 90,000 voting stations across the country.
This bid for transparency is costing hundreds of (m) millions of dollars but is intended to calm the protests that occurred in the wake last December's parliamentary elections.
"After the elections, of the parliamentary elections in December 4th in 2011, there were many allegations that there were some mishappenings, at some locations where the vote took place," Russia's Minister of Communication and Mass Media, Igor Shchegolev said.
He said the implementation of web technology will "give everyone the possibility in real time regime to follow what is going on."
The cameras are already operational and their scope was showcased by the Russian Minister of Communication inside of the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday - the day before the election.
Whether the image quality of webcams is enough to clearly see what's happening in Russia's voting stations is unknown.
The media opening of the webcam service indicate that preparations are well underway in Moscow on Saturday for Sunday's election.
Elsewhere, police could be seen around the Kremlin, although there weren't any large deployments of security visible on the streets of the capital early on Saturday.
At polling stations across Moscow, ballot boxes were being set up and the voter lists checked.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has voiced full confidence that he'll win Sunday's presidential election, bluntly dismissing opposition demands.
Putin's United Russia party barely hung on to its majority of seats in parliament.
Evidence of vote-rigging after parliamentary elections fuelled protests in Moscow that drew tens of thousands of people in the largest show of discontent since the 1991 Soviet collapse.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
