Scientist challenges incumbent in Czech presidential run-off

Jiri Drahos, a scientist in chemistry, is challenging Milos Zeman.

Jiri Drahos casts his vote (Ondrej Deml/CTK/AP)

By Jim Davies

Voters in the Czech Republic are casting ballots in the second round of a presidential election, a run-off between the Russia-friendly incumbent and the former head of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

President Milos Zeman and Jiri Drahos, a scientist in chemistry, advanced to the second round after none of the nine candidates in the first round two weeks ago received a majority of votes.