Regional elections and ballot counting would be broadcast live on the Internet, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered Friday.

Medvedev has told the Ministry of Communications and the Mass Media to organize video broadcasts during regional elections slated for Oct. 14.

Voters will be asked to elect regional legislative bodies in six regions, governors in five other regions and about 80 municipal assemblies.

According to the order, Rostelecom Corporation will run the broadcast. The Communication Ministry was also instructed to collect and store records of video broadcasting.

Direct election of governors was canceled in 2004 by then President Vladimir Putin, who saw it as encouraging local separatism sentiments.

After last December's parliamentary elections, mass rallies were held in Russian cities protesting alleged vote fraud. A return to the direct election of governors was one of the protesters' demands.

In March 2012, presidential elections in Russia were broadcast live by Rostelecom from 90,000 polling stations throughout the country. That cost the federal budget 13 billion rubles (about 420 million U.S. dollars).