Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday warned hopefuls in the just-launched parliamentary elections that campaigns trading on nationalism and chauvinism will not be tolerated.
"Chauvinism and nationalism in an electoral campaign are the simplest and most harmful means," which are "all the more unacceptable," Putin said as quoted by the RIA-Novosti news agency.
"One can welcome this only if one wants to destroy our country. But if we want to preserve Russia, we must be harsh and firm in fighting it, and cultivate an absolute intolerance to such things," Putin added.
Forty-four parties are registered to run in the December 7 elections for 450 seats in the State Duma lower house of parliament. They need to score a minimum of five percent of the popular vote to secure representation in parliament.
Pro-presidential forces dominate the current Duma, but recent polls show that the opposition Communist Party is running neck-and-neck with the leading pro-Kremlin United Russia coalition.
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