TODAY: Polling station web cameras are useless, say critics; Central Elections Committee sees no violations; Putin says Duma vote will not be held early, blames West for escalation of Syria conflict; Lermontov cancels local elections; Human Rights Watch says opposition figures have been targeted ahead of elections. Tuschi’s Khodorkovsky documentary released; art & politics.

200,000 web cameras have been installed at polling stations across Russia (at a total cost of $478 million) in preparation for this Sunday’s vote, as critics point out that the footage won’t cover the places where violations tend to take place.  A student in St Petersburg was arrested for selling absentee ballots earlier this week.  The Investigative Committee is trying to track down the source of faked videos of election fraud.  The Central Elections Commission says it has uncovered no violations regarding candidates’ access to media coverage in the run-up; independent watchdog Golos says that Putin has had disproportionate coverage.  ‘In Rzhev, a city of about 70,000 inhabitants 230 kilometers west of Moscow, no campaign posters can be seen except for those endorsing Putin.’  Moscow authorities have approved a Monday post-election opposition rally on Pushkin Square, capping the gathering at 10,000.  Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says that the city will not allow any long-term street protests.  Voting factbox from Reuters.