NOVOSIBIRSK, March 11 (RIA Novosti) - Two regions in southeast Siberia hold a referendum Sunday on their unification.
The merger proposal was made by the authorities of the two regions - the Chita Region and the Aginsk Buryat Autonomous Area. The unification, one of a series of similar moves in Russia recently, is expected to provide an economic boost and raise local living standards.
If voters back the move to unite the regions, near Lake Baikal, into the Zabaikalsky Territory, the new territorial entity will be formally established March 1, 2008.
As of 2:00 p.m. local time (05:00 a.m. GMT), voter turnout crossed the required electoral threshold of 50%, the regional electoral commission said.
"The vote is taking place in a calm atmosphere. No incidents have been registered," the commission said.
