Russian law required all political organizations to file with the nation's Justice Ministry by midnight Thursday for the right to field candidates in elections.

Out of some 70,000 parties and movements said to exist throughout Russia before the deadline, less than one third registered at the ministry in time, the news agency said. Many of the organizations to be liquidated had previously existed ``only on paper,'' said Justice Minister Pavel Krasheninikov.

The registration drive does not apply to upcoming December elections to the State Duma, or lower house of parliament, for which parties had to apply a year ahead of time.