KOSTROMA, Russia: Russians voted in local elections on Sunday expected to confirm the ruling party’s dominance despite a dogged campaign by the opposition in the one region it has been allowed to stand.

About 59 million are eligible to vote in a ballot that looks to be easily won by the United Russia party which supports President Vladimir Putin.

The main challenge to the Kremlin came in the sleepy city of Kostroma around 350 kilometersnortheast of Moscow, where the RPR-Parnas liberal opposition coalition is fielding two candidates.

The opposition coalition includes the party of slain Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov and is fronted by Alexei Navalny, an anti-corruption crusader and fearless Kremlin critic.

The coalition’s candidates have been disqualified from other regional polls in a move it calls politically motivated.