Queues form outside polling stations in Venezuela

About 18 million people are expected to take part in the elections, Ekho Moskvy reports . Vice President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Henrique Capriles are competing for the post of head of state, although seven candidates are vying for the post of president.

On the evening before the elections in Venezuela, a scandal erupted: the opposition accused the authorities of illegal campaigning. Maduro was shown on television visiting Chavez's grave. Capriles called the video a "shameless violation of election law."

Voting will officially end on Monday night, Moscow time, but polling stations will remain open until there are no more people willing to express their position.