Another candidate, Andrey Lugovoy, decided to withdraw from the campaign. A former security officer, he’s wanted in Britain in connection with the alleged murder of Aleksandr Litvinenko, also a former security officer who was poisoned in London three years ago.

Meanwhile, Boris Nemtsov, who’s famous for, among other things, pouring juice on his opponents on national TV, got some of his own] medicine. Witnesses say several young men attacked the opposition candidate with bottles of soda mixed with chemicals.

Boris Nemtsov

Like all the other candidates, Nemtsov is certain of one thing: he has a good chance of becoming mayor. Sochi is a Russian Black sea resort, famous for its mild climate and for being chosen to host the 2014 winter Olympic games – the first sporting event of its kind to be held in the subtropics.

For several candidates, transforming the Olympic project is their key idea.

Aleksandr Lebedev (RT Photo / Irina Vasilevitskaya)

Wealthy entrepreneur Aleksandr Lebedev says that the financial side of the games should be thoroughly scrutinized. But he’s not against Sochi becoming an Olympic capital. “It’s a matter of actually proving to ourselves – we have proper elections. This is the thing we are showing the world. And I thing it’s part of the Olympics. Olympics are all about democracy in sports. And this is about democracy in the political system,” he said.

Sochi’s current acting mayor, and United Russia party candidate, Anatoly Pakhomov, if elected, promises to help small businesses grow.