Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin greets voters in Moscow.<br/> <br />The former president casts his ballot Sunday in elections widely expected to return him to the office.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER VLADIMIR PUTIN SAYING :<br/> <br />"I am sure people act with a great sense of responsibility and I am counting on a high turnout."<br/> <br />He served two terms from 2000 to 2008, after which term limits forced him to step aside for his protégé Dmitry Medvedev.<br/> <br />Several Moscow residents dismissed the other four candidates, saying Putin is the only choice.<br/> <br />But not everyone stands behind the popular politician.<br/> <br />Tens of thousands have joined opposition protests over a controversial December election when his United Russia Party regained a majority in the legislature amid accusations of voting fraud.<br/> <br />Polls forecast Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov to take 15 percent of the vote, against more than 60 percent for Putin.<br/> <br />The opposition leader claims irregularities are already being reported.<br/> <br />He says he's heard reports of ballot stuffing in the Far East of the country and accuses "crooks" of trying to rig the election.<br/> <br />The three other candidates are expected to finish even further behind the former president.<br/> <br />Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
