Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that an opposition election protest against him organized by the opposition had no effect, but that people who had prevented other people voting by acts of vandalism should be punished.
Supporters of the late Alexei Navalny had called on Russians to turn up at polling stations for a "Noon against Putin" protest to show their opposition to a leader they describe as a corrupt autocrat.
Putin also said Russia was ready for talks on a French proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine during the Olympic games, but would need to take Russia's interests on the frontline into account.
This is a developing story.