{{Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny faced off against a Kremlin ally on Sunday in a Moscow mayoral election with high stakes for both President Vladimir Putin and his foes.}}<\/p>\n
The contest to head Russia’s capital will help shape Putin’s six-year third term and the fortunes of two politicians who could play bigger roles in the future.<\/p>\n
For underdog Navalny, 37, an anti-corruption campaigner who emerged from a wave of street protests as the driving force of opposition to Putin’s 13-year rule, the vote is a chance to show many Russians want change and he is the man to make it happen.<\/p>\n
It pits him against Sergei Sobyanin, a former Putin administration chief who was appointed to a five-year term by the Kremlin in 2010 but called an early election to bolster his legitimacy and strengthen his position.<\/p>\n
Irina, a Muscovite in her 40s who works in manufacturing and on Sunday voted with her father, cast her ballot for Navalny in a sign of protest against the Kremlin.<\/p>\n
“We’ve both voted for Navalny, we like some things about him but first and foremost we really don’t like the authorities,” she said.<\/p>\n
{{Worker Yevgeni chose Sobyanin.}}<\/p>\n
“There is no need for any change, everything is fine here. He’s got serious experience now, he’s well into this job. I like the way he works and want to see more of the same,” he said, adding his main demand was for more jobs.<\/p>\n
But even among those who voted for Navalny, there was little hope he could win and a threat of jail hangs over him.<\/p>\n
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