By Maria Golovnina
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian liberals, on the eve of anelection for president that is certain to hand Vladimir Putin'shandpicked candidate a resounding victory, accused the Kremlinon Saturday of orchestrating "a farce".
No campaigning was allowed on an official "day of silence"across Russia's 11 time zones following weeks of a colourlesscampaign that has sparked little excitement among Russia's 109million registered voters.
But opposition politicians made a final protest overSunday's vote which will be a shoo-in for First Deputy PrimeMinister Dmitry Medvedev, 42, who enjoys Putin's endorsementand thus blanket media coverage.
Putin has presided over Russia's longest economic boom in ageneration and many people see a future partnership betweenMedvedev and his patron -- who is expected to become primeminister -- as a way of preserving stability.
Putin's critics -- not only liberals but also thevociferous communists -- accuse the Kremlin of harassing rivalsand forcing millions of state workers to vote or risk losingtheir jobs.
Most Western election observers have refused to monitor theelection, citing lack of official cooperation from the Russianauthorities.
Former world chess champion and opposition figure GarryKasparov and his allies submitted a petition to the centralelection commission describing the election as a "farce".
"It's very important that there are still people around whobelieve that this election is a farce," said Nikita Belykh, anopposition leader.
"We do not think that what's happening in our country canbe called an election," he told reporters.
LOW TURNOUT
But a low turnout could take the shine off Medvedev'slikely crushing victory and officials -- including Putinhimself in a televised address to people on Friday -- sought togalvanise apathetic voters.
"I appeal to you to go to the election on Sunday and votefor our future, for Russia's future," said Putin. Analysts saythe Kremlin wants to ensure a turnout of at least 70 percent.
Mobile phone operators have been sending text messagesurging subscribers to vote. Posters and advertisements alongstreets and badges distributed by workers are also meant toremind people of the poll.
Alexander, an entrepreneur in the Siberian oil town ofNizhnevartovsk who did not give his family name, told Reutersby telephone that officials were attempting to bribe peopleinto voting by offering them car lottery tickets at pollingstations.
"The higher the turnout number, the better off they will beafter the election," he said.
Putin, a former KGB spy who has to step down because he hasserved two full terms, endorsed Medvedev, a former lawyer fromthe same city of St Petersburg, last December ending a longperiod of suspense over who would follow him into the Kremlin.
The 55-year-old Putin is however poised to keep a hand onthe levers of power by becoming prime minister in a Medvedevadministration.
Opposition candidates have either been disqualified, orhave refused to run in protest. Medvedev's rivals are CommunistParty leader Gennady Zyuganov, pro-Kremlin nationalist VladimirZhirinovsky and Andrei Bogdanov, a little-known politician.
A huge poster featuring a smiling Putin walking alongsideMedvedev was towering above downtown Moscow, just a minute'swalk from the Kremlin. "Together we will win," read the poster.
In Moscow, Russia's traditional "matryoshka" nesting dollswith Medvedev portraits were seen on display at souvenirstalls.
Some Russians voiced disenchantment.
"I voted for Putin last time but now I not going to vote atall this time," said Vladimir, a Moscow resident in his 30s. "Iam not an idiot. It's humiliating to vote when everything hasbeen predecided."
(Additional reporting by Aidar Buribayev; Writing by MariaGolovnina and Richard Balmforth; Editing by Caroline Drees)
