This will be the first time in a decade that Moscovites could choose their mayor by a popular vote. So far, the mayor was appointed by the president's decree.

　　On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin accepted the resignation of Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, allowing him to participate in the polls.

　　Sobyanin will work as the acting mayor until the election day.

　　The candidates for the vacant post could submit their bids to the city election commission from June 12 to July 12. Everyone who manages to collect the required number of signatures during the 30 days could run for the post.

　　Under the Moscow city law, an eligible candidate needs to collect at least 6 percent of signatures of municipal representatives.

　　Sobyanin was appointed for the mayor's office in October 2010 by then president Dmitry Medvedev. His mandate expires in 2015 if he did not call the early elections.

　　The elections of the Moscow regional governor have also been set on Sept. 8.