Police Search Candidate's Office Ahead of Yaroslavl Vote

Local media in the Russian city of Yaroslavl have reported that police on March 30 searched the office of an opposition mayoral candidate ahead of a runoff vote on April 1. 

Yartribuna.ru reported that police demanded that the election campaign team of Yevgeny Urlashov provide proof he hasn't violated campaign spending rules. 

Earlier, authorities said searches would be conducted in the offices of both Urlashev and his opponent, the ruling United Russia party candidate Yakov Yakushev.

It was unclear whether Yakushev's office was searched.

Urlashov says his opponents have been distributing fake campaign material in his name to discredit him and have paid "provocateurs" to disturb his campaign appearances.

Urlashov received about 40 percent of the first-round vote on March 4, while Yaskushev received about 27 percent.

With reporting by Interfax, yartribuna.ru