With over 1,000 polling stations counted, Moscow’s TV Rain has projected the voting according to data in-hand by the Election Commission.
State-funded VTsIOM show exit polls with 53% for current mayor Sobyanin but with main challenger Alexei Navanly running a much stronger race that government polls had indicated with 32 percent of votes.
Itar-Tass published an exit poll giving Mayor Sobyanin 52 percent and challenger Navalny with a strong 29 percent.
However the top challenger in the race, Alexei Navalny, has asked the government for a second round and to delay declaring a winner until the run-off is completed.
Moscow polling stations are very modern and here is a view of one station in operation yesterday:
