Iranian citizens actively participate in voting at the presidential elections in Iran at a polling station in Moscow, located in the Payam-e-Imam educational complex, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali told TASS.
The ambassador stressed that today is a very important day for the Iranian people. "A lot of people came to the vote [in Moscow]," the ambassador said. He noted, however, that many Iranians are not in Moscow right now because some students and businessmen have returned to Iran because of the coronavirus.
A total of four polling stations are working in Russia on Friday: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan and Kazan. According to the diplomat, the turnout of voters compared to the number of Iranians living in Russia is very good. "In a few hours we will count all the votes, and at the end [of the count] we will know how the voting went," he added.
Jalali also pointed out that the voting was taking place in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures: disinfection, social distance and a mask regime were being observed. The diplomat assured that Iranians living in Russia observe the precautionary measures in connection with the coronavirus.
At 15:00 the situation at the polling station in Moscow is calm. Voting takes place in the courtyard of an educational complex. The voting procedure does not take long, so there are no queues, but voters are arriving despite the hot weather.
Polling stations are scheduled to close at 18:00, but Jalali said the voting time will be extended if necessary.
Elections in Iran
According to the Student Center for Public Opinion Polling, 63% of people who decided to go to the polls are ready to vote for Supreme Court Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi. His closest rival is Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of the Expediency Council, who is ready to be supported by 9% of voters. Other contenders for the head of government are Amir Hossein Qazizadeh Hashemi, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis (parliament), and Abdolnasser Hemmati, former head of the central bank.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Artem Geodakyan / TASS
Based on materials from TASS