MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Vadim Krasnoselsky, Transnistria’s parliament speaker and former interior minister, is winning presidential elections in the unrecognized republic with 69.8% of the vote, according to the exit poll conducted by the All-Russia Public Opinion Center at the order of Transnistria’s TSV television company.

"According to the exit poll results, Vadim Krasnoselsky has scored the majority of votes at the elections of the president of the unrecognized Transnistrian republic (69.8%)," the pollster said.

Polling stations closed at 20:00 local time (21:00 Moscow time).

According to preliminary information, the voter turnout exceeded 56% one hour before the end of voting.

"Presidential elections were held in the unrecognized republic of Transnistria on Sunday. Six candidates are vying for the presidential office. The frontrunners are Yevgeni Shevchuk, the incumbent Transnistrian head, and Vadim Krasnoselsky, who has stepped down as chairman of the Supreme Council (parliament) in order to run for president. Other candidates include Communist Party leader Oleg Khorzhan, former Constitutional Court Chairman Vladimir Grigoryev, Prosecutor General Alexander Deli and unemployed Irina Vasikakii.

However, pollsters and analysts say that none of the candidates is likely to receive 50% of the vote needed to win the elections so runoff elections will be held on December 25. Two candidates getting more votes than the four others will make it into the runoff elections.

The Transnistrian Central Election Commission promised to announce voting results on Monday.