Paul Andersson report from Moscow: The campaign has exposed life in St Petersburg at its murkiest

They have become the focus of attention after the murder in the city two weeks ago of one of Russia's most popular and prominent liberal politicians, Galina Starovoitova. Her death drew widespread international condemnation.

Mrs Starovoitova was not a candidate, and there is no evidence her killing was connected to the elections, but her killing is widely believed to have been politically motivated.

Contract killings

She was seen as a potential challenger to city governor Vladimir Yakovlev in the next gubernatorial vote in 2000.

Tight security is in place around polling stations

Several other politicians and businessmen have been the victims of contract murders this year.

At the beginning of the 1990s, St Petersburg was at the forefront of the democracy movement under the reformist mayor, Anatoly Sobchak.

But BBC Moscow Correspondent, Paul Anderson, says it has lost its drive and now, according to the former first deputy prime minister, Boris Nemtsov, it is the crime capital of Russia.

Mrs Starovoitova's murder underlined the feeling that the city has failed to meet the high expectations of the post-Soviet era.

National interest

Sunday's elections to the 50-seat Assembly are expected to have some significance beyond the city itself.

Most Russian local assemblies have a reputation as rubber-stamp bodies for the actions of powerful mayors.

But our correspondent says St Petersburg's liberal politicians are trying to change that. They want to restrict the powers of Governor Yakovlev - a political opponent of Galina Starovoitova and a man accused by the liberals of serving his own interests.

They will be hoping that the final result, after run-offs in two weeks, will give them the power to do so.