By AFPMore by this AuthorMOSCOWCampaigning officially started on Monday for Russia's presidential election in March, in which President Vladimir Putin is widely expected to win a fourth Kremlin term that would keep him in power until 2024. JOSEPH STALINPutin, who was first elected to the presidency in 2000, is widely expected to sail to victory, cementing his status as Russia's longest-serving ruler since dictator Joseph Stalin. FUNDS 'TO CHEAT YOU'The head of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova, said she was ready to hold the vote "at the right level". During the September 2016 parliamentary vote, the opposition accused Pamfilova of ignoring violations even when they were caught on camera. "There are other candidates but Putin, of course, has the most chances," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this month.

Source: Daily Nation December 18, 2017 15:45 UTC