VLADIVOSTOK, May 18 (RIA Novosti) - A candidate from the ruling United Russia party won the early mayoral election in the Russian Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, the city's electoral commission said on Sunday.
With more than 96% of ballot papers counted, Igor Pushkaryov gained over 56.59% of the electors' votes. Under local legislation, the winner must gain more than 50% of the votes to become Vladivostok mayor.
The early mayoral elections in the Russian Far Eastern city were scheduled for May 18 after a Vladivostok court handed former mayor Vladimir Nikolayev a four and a half year suspended sentence for abuse of office. The court also ruled that Nikolayev could not occupy any top administrative posts for the next three years.
