"We predict there will be at least 500 of [observers]. Between 500 and 1,000 from more than 100 countries around the world," Pamfilova said at a CEC meeting.
To date, 11 people have submitted their applications to run in the Russian presidential election, which will take place from March 15-17. Three of them have been already registered as they were nominated by parliamentary parties and thus are not required to collect signatures to get on the ballot.
Vladimir Putin is running as an independent candidate and had 315,000 signatures in support of his candidacy submitted to the CEC, above the 300,000 threshold set by the law, co-chair of Putin's election campaign Maryana Lysenko said on Monday.