Alejandro Canizares edges ahead

Canizares, who had a clean round with five birdies on Friday, bogeyed a par-five fifth hole along with six birdies to finish on 16-under-par 200 after three rounds.

The 23-year-old Spaniard, playing in only his third European Tour event, also had some luck saving a par on the 548-yard par-five 17th.

"I got very lucky there," said the son of former Ryder Cup winner Jose-Maria Canizares.

"I drove the ball into the water from the tee, took a penalty drop, then hit the ball over the hill and it was going into the water again but it was stopped by the drainage tank.

"I got a free drop from there and then got down in two so I was very lucky."

Canizares, who finished tied for seventh at last week's Dutch Open, leads fellow Spaniard Carlos Rodiles and Briton David Drysdale, two of the three overnight leaders, who both shot 69s.

Drysdale, who equalled the course record with 10-under-par 62 on Thursday, was disappointed with his effort after making just four birdies and bogeying the 14th.

"I had a terrible finish so I'm not too happy at the moment," said the 31-year-old Scot, still looking for his first European Tour victory.

Rodiles also bogeyed the fifth and had a double bogey on the par-four 13th hole.

Another Spaniard Francis Valera, who shot 67 on Friday to move into a three-way tie for the lead with Drysdale and Rodiles after two rounds, struggled on a hot and humid afternoon at the Moscow Country Club in suburban Nakhabino.

Valera had three bogeys to finish two over par and drop six strokes behind.

Defending champion Mikael Lundberg of Sweden, who began the day tied for sixth three shots back, remained in contention with a 70 at 205.

This year the Russian Open became a fully fledged European Tour event for the first time in its 13-year history with one million euros ($1.28 million) in prize money.