5 mayoral candidates' debate to be broadcast live by Moscow-24

Candidates for the Moscow city mayor's office will meet in a live programme on the Moscow-24 television channel on Monday for debates that will begin at 21:00. Only five out of six candidates will take part in the debate. These are Ivan Melnikov, First Deputy Head of the Central Committee of the CPRF, Nikolai Leivchev, Chairman of " A Just Russia" party, Mikhail Degtyarev, a Member of the State Duma from the LDPR, Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of the Yabloko party, as well as Alexei Navalny who was nominated by the RPR-PARNAS party. Acting mayor and candidate Sergei Sobyanin decided against participating in preelection debates. An official at the Moscow city electoral commission said Sunday that Federal legislation and the Election Code of Moscow stipulate that to participate in joint canvassing events, including a debate, is a right, not an obligation of the candidate. Refusal by any candidate to take part in a debate is not a breach of the electoral legislation of the RF. All candidates will participate in the discussion simultaneously, said Yuri Zhiganov programme manager of the joint editorial office of Moscow-based media, the Moscow-Media. One hour of air time is allotted for the debate.