Russia kicks off 8th presidential election

STORY: Russia kicks off 8th presidential election SHOOTING TIME: March 15, 2024 DATELINE: March 15, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:44 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of voters casting ballots at polling stations in Moscow 2. various of voters casting ballots at polling stations in Vladivostok 3. various of voters casting ballots at polling stations in St. Petersburg STORYLINE: Russia's presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. Early voting for the presidential election began on Feb. 25 when voters in remote, hard-to-reach areas, polar regions, overseas vessels, and border outposts cast their votes. Russian citizens living abroad started their early voting on March 1. Under Russia's presidentia

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

(240315) -- ST.PETERSBURG, March 15, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Voters are pictured at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 15, 2024. Russia's eighth presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. (Xinhua/An Xiaomeng)

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

(240315) -- ST.PETERSBURG, March 15, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A voter registers to vote at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 15, 2024. Russia's eighth presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. (Xinhua/An Xiaomeng)

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

(240315) -- ST.PETERSBURG, March 15, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A voter leaves a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 15, 2024. Russia's eighth presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. (Xinhua/An Xiaomeng)

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

(240315) -- ST.PETERSBURG, March 15, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A voter registers to vote at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 15, 2024. Russia's eighth presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. (Xinhua/An Xiaomeng)

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

RUSSIA-ST.PETERSBURG-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION-VOTING

(240315) -- ST.PETERSBURG, March 15, 2024 (Xinhua) -- A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, March 15, 2024. Russia's eighth presidential election begins Friday and will continue until Sunday. Four candidates are registered for the election, namely incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Leonid Slutsky, Vladislav Davankov from Russia's New People Party, and Nikolai Kharitonov, the Russian Communist Party's candidate. (Xinhua/An Xiaomeng)

Remains of St. Nikolai honored at Hakodate church

Remains of St. Nikolai honored at Hakodate church

HAKODATE, Japan - A ceremony to officially mark the transfer of the remains of St. Nikolai (1836-1912) from Tokyo is held at the orthodox church in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on Feb. 16. Nikolai, sainted in 1970, established the first Russian Orthodox mission in Japan. He first came to Japan in 1861 as a monk affiliated with the Russian consulate in Hakodate.

Remains of St. Nikolai honored at Hakodate church

Remains of St. Nikolai honored at Hakodate church

HAKODATE, Japan - A ceremony to officially mark the transfer of the remains of St. Nikolai (1836-1912) from Tokyo is held at the orthodox church in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on Feb. 16. Nikolai, sainted in 1970, established the first Russian Orthodox mission in Japan. He first came to Japan in 1861 as a monk affiliated with the Russian consulate in Hakodate.