The upper chamber of the Russian Parliament on its special session set the date of the pre-term presidential elections for March 26.

145 members of the Council voted for this decision, one was against. This morning the Federal Council Constitutional Committee approved the date practically without discussion and recommended that the members of the Council to back their decision. The collection of necessary signatures and documents may begin as soon as tomorrow. According to the sources of information in the Kremlin, Putin believes that the elections should occur within the terms stipulated by the law, that is the last Sunday of this March. This date seems to him to be optimal. Besides that, the Kremlin says that all candidates will have an equal chance. Vladimir Putin has already discussed this topic today during the course of his meeting with the State Duma deputies. The Constitution says that the presidential elections have to take place within a three month period after the moment of the pre-term termination of the presidential authorities. The Federal Council sets the date of the elections. The new law on the presidential elections, in accordance with which the elections have been set, came into effect today.