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| Russian election: reaction to Putin's victory - live updates | Russian election: reaction to Putin's victory - live updates |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 11.02am: Miriam Elder says that Putin is poised to win just under 64% of the vote nationally, according to the electoral commission. Opposition anger is such that some are considering an Occupy Moscow movement, she said: | |
| The question right now is whether they are going to fight for fast change or whether they are looking for a more long term process, just looking for any signs of reform for Puting. You do have some aspects inside the protest movement that are radicals, calling for poeple to set up tents and do a sort of Occupy Moscow movement and try to force the Kremlin into change. And then a lot of the oppoosition leaders were saying last night 'We don't have any illussions, we don't think that things are going to change in two or three weeks. We just have to keep up the pressure and ensure as fair a political system as we can get over time'. | |
| @MiriamElder on the Russian election and what"s next for the opposition (mp3) On the tears Putin shed as he addressed supporters yesterday, Miriam said: | |
| He's been trying to pass it off that it was from the wind but if you look, from the video he really does look very emotional and people here are taking it with a laugh or in a realy sad sort of way. I see people saying 'Where were Putin's tears when the children were killed in the terrorist act of Beslan? Where were his tears when the Kursk submarine sank?' But then a lot of people are citing this very famous Russian movie "Moscow doesn't believe in Tears" and that's looking at it as more of the theatre that he's built. | |
| 10.45am: The head of the major international election observer mission in Russia says there were "serious problems" in the vote that returned Vladimir Putin to the presidency. | |
| Tonino Picula said in a statement: | |
| The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain. This was not the case in Russia. | |
| He said that "there was no real competition, and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt". Picula headed the short-term observer mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). | |
| A brief synopsis of the mission's findings did not address Russian independent observers' contentions that there were widespread cases of people casting multiple ballots, but said the election "process deteriorated during the vote count, which was assessed negatively in almost one-third of polling stations observed". This is just one of the videos of alleged ballot stuffing that have been posted by activists. | |
You can see more examples on our earlier Russian results live blog. | |
| Miriam Elder has forwarded this video, by TV Rain, a liberal channel in Russia, of army trucks outside the kremlin walls in advance of tonight's opposition protest: | Miriam Elder has forwarded this video, by TV Rain, a liberal channel in Russia, of army trucks outside the kremlin walls in advance of tonight's opposition protest: |
Thousands are expected to congegrate in Pushkin Square. | Thousands are expected to congegrate in Pushkin Square. |
| 10.13am: Russia's controversial election chief Vladimir Churov has accused some international observers sent to Russia to monitor yesterday's polls of spying (link in Russian), Luke Harding writes. | 10.13am: Russia's controversial election chief Vladimir Churov has accused some international observers sent to Russia to monitor yesterday's polls of spying (link in Russian), Luke Harding writes. |
| Churov says the real purpose of their visit was to penetrate Russia's nuclear and military facilities. He claimed, without offering evidence, that there have been recent attempts to gain access to the country's secrets: "We are coming up against more and more unacceptable attempts to penetrate into border areas, to closed nuclear centre, to rocket centres and so on. The numbers of people wishing to do this is growing," he said. | Churov says the real purpose of their visit was to penetrate Russia's nuclear and military facilities. He claimed, without offering evidence, that there have been recent attempts to gain access to the country's secrets: "We are coming up against more and more unacceptable attempts to penetrate into border areas, to closed nuclear centre, to rocket centres and so on. The numbers of people wishing to do this is growing," he said. |
| A hate figure for Russia's liberals, the opposition have called on Churov to be fired for his role in the blatant vote-rigging that took place in December's parliamentary elections. Churov has already pronounced yesterday's presidential poll to have been clean. | A hate figure for Russia's liberals, the opposition have called on Churov to be fired for his role in the blatant vote-rigging that took place in December's parliamentary elections. Churov has already pronounced yesterday's presidential poll to have been clean. |
| 10.02am: Syrian state media has welcomed the return of Putin to the Russian presidency, AP reports. | 10.02am: Syrian state media has welcomed the return of Putin to the Russian presidency, AP reports. |
| Russia is one of Syria's few remaining allies after widespread condemnation of President Bashar al-Assad's bloody crackdown on the uprising against his rule. Russia, along with China, has twice vetoed UN security council resolutions condemning the Assad regime. | Russia is one of Syria's few remaining allies after widespread condemnation of President Bashar al-Assad's bloody crackdown on the uprising against his rule. Russia, along with China, has twice vetoed UN security council resolutions condemning the Assad regime. |
| A headline in the Tishrin daily Monday reads: "Russia brings back the strong man to the Kremlin." | A headline in the Tishrin daily Monday reads: "Russia brings back the strong man to the Kremlin." |
| In an editorial, the paper said Putin would reshape international relations to respect "countries' interests and unity and not interfere in their internal affairs". | In an editorial, the paper said Putin would reshape international relations to respect "countries' interests and unity and not interfere in their internal affairs". |
| 9.53am: If anyone has any video evidence of fraud in the Russian election, please share it with us. You can post a link below the line, send me a link via Twitter or email me at haroon[dot]siddique@guardian.co.uk. | 9.53am: If anyone has any video evidence of fraud in the Russian election, please share it with us. You can post a link below the line, send me a link via Twitter or email me at haroon[dot]siddique@guardian.co.uk. |
| 9.45am: Russia's opposition leaders are refusing to concede that Putin notched up a fair victory yesterday, Luke Harding writes. | 9.45am: Russia's opposition leaders are refusing to concede that Putin notched up a fair victory yesterday, Luke Harding writes. |
| Writing this morning Vladimir Milov (@v_milov) - a former deputy energy minister during Putin's first presidency - tweeted: "Don't give in to the mood 'let's recognise Putin won cleanly.' Yesterday was a day of mass organised voting. That's not victory." Milov says that the fraud was difficult to observe at individual polling station, but that the "picture of falsification" became clearer when he got back to his party headquarters. | Writing this morning Vladimir Milov (@v_milov) - a former deputy energy minister during Putin's first presidency - tweeted: "Don't give in to the mood 'let's recognise Putin won cleanly.' Yesterday was a day of mass organised voting. That's not victory." Milov says that the fraud was difficult to observe at individual polling station, but that the "picture of falsification" became clearer when he got back to his party headquarters. |
| Another opposition figure, Roman Dobrokhotov, (@dobrokhotov) points out that the number of people who voted for Putin in Moscow was lower than the official result for Putin's United Russia party in December's parliamentary elections, widely seen as rigged. "How does the Kremlin explain that?" he asks. | Another opposition figure, Roman Dobrokhotov, (@dobrokhotov) points out that the number of people who voted for Putin in Moscow was lower than the official result for Putin's United Russia party in December's parliamentary elections, widely seen as rigged. "How does the Kremlin explain that?" he asks. |
| Oleg Kozlovsky (@kozlovsky), another oppositionist, has his own estimate of what the results were: "The real result for Pu [Putin] in Moscow without ballot-box stuffing and carousel voting - 40 per cent maximum. Across Russia up to 50 per cent. And that's not taking into account pre-selection of 'rivals'." | Oleg Kozlovsky (@kozlovsky), another oppositionist, has his own estimate of what the results were: "The real result for Pu [Putin] in Moscow without ballot-box stuffing and carousel voting - 40 per cent maximum. Across Russia up to 50 per cent. And that's not taking into account pre-selection of 'rivals'." |
| 9.24am: After the public outrage that followed reports of widespread falsifications in December's parliamentary poll, Putin ordered that live web cameras be fitted in each of the country's 91,000 polling stations. But opposition activists say it failed to stop fraud and some violations have been reported by the Russian media. Interfax said 69 election violation reports were made in St Petersburg. | 9.24am: After the public outrage that followed reports of widespread falsifications in December's parliamentary poll, Putin ordered that live web cameras be fitted in each of the country's 91,000 polling stations. But opposition activists say it failed to stop fraud and some violations have been reported by the Russian media. Interfax said 69 election violation reports were made in St Petersburg. |
| And the results at a polling station in the Dagestani village of Tarumovka were annulled after staff were spotted by web cameras opening the ballot box before the approved time, Ria Novosti reports. | And the results at a polling station in the Dagestani village of Tarumovka were annulled after staff were spotted by web cameras opening the ballot box before the approved time, Ria Novosti reports. |
| 9.14am: The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent, Tom Parfitt, tweets that Putin's share of the vote was lower in Moscow, where opposition to him is strongest. | 9.14am: The Daily Telegraph's Moscow correspondent, Tom Parfitt, tweets that Putin's share of the vote was lower in Moscow, where opposition to him is strongest. |
| Putin has 64% of the vote after almost all ballots counted. He got only 47% in Moscow. Mikhail Prokhorov came second in the city on 20%. | Putin has 64% of the vote after almost all ballots counted. He got only 47% in Moscow. Mikhail Prokhorov came second in the city on 20%. |
| — Tom Parfitt (@parfitt_tom) March 5, 2012 | — Tom Parfitt (@parfitt_tom) March 5, 2012 |
| You can follow the Guardian's current Moscow correspondent, Miriam Elder and the Guardian's former Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, on Twitter, for more election reaction. | You can follow the Guardian's current Moscow correspondent, Miriam Elder and the Guardian's former Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, on Twitter, for more election reaction. |
| 9.08am: In a move likely to be greeted with scepticism, hot on the heels of Putin's contested victory, the Kremlin has extended an olive branch to its opponents, telling the prosecutor general to study the legality of 32 criminal cases including the jailing of the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pictured left). | 9.08am: In a move likely to be greeted with scepticism, hot on the heels of Putin's contested victory, the Kremlin has extended an olive branch to its opponents, telling the prosecutor general to study the legality of 32 criminal cases including the jailing of the former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky (pictured left). |
| The outgoing Russian president, Dmity Medvedev, also told the justice minister to explain why Russia had refused to register the liberal opposition movement Parnas, whose leaders include the former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. From Reuters: | The outgoing Russian president, Dmity Medvedev, also told the justice minister to explain why Russia had refused to register the liberal opposition movement Parnas, whose leaders include the former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov. From Reuters: |
| Khodorkovsky headed what was Russia's biggest oil company, Yukos, and was once the country's richest man. He was arrested in 2003 and jailed on tax evasion and fraud charges after showing political ambitions and falling out with Putin. | Khodorkovsky headed what was Russia's biggest oil company, Yukos, and was once the country's richest man. He was arrested in 2003 and jailed on tax evasion and fraud charges after showing political ambitions and falling out with Putin. |
| He received a new sentence in 2010 and is expected to stay in prison until 2016 in a case that Putin's opponents say is politically motivated. | He received a new sentence in 2010 and is expected to stay in prison until 2016 in a case that Putin's opponents say is politically motivated. |
| Khodorkovsky's lawyer, Vadim Klyuvgant, told Reuters the true significance of Medvedev's initiative could be judged only when the outcome of the investigation was known. "There's been so many ... orders that you run out of words to comment," he said. | Khodorkovsky's lawyer, Vadim Klyuvgant, told Reuters the true significance of Medvedev's initiative could be judged only when the outcome of the investigation was known. "There's been so many ... orders that you run out of words to comment," he said. |
| "But if ... the prosecutor and the president start to conform with the law, we will know it from the result. The lawlessness of this sentence is so glaring that there's nothing to study there." | "But if ... the prosecutor and the president start to conform with the law, we will know it from the result. The lawlessness of this sentence is so glaring that there's nothing to study there." |
| 8.56am: Good morning. Vladimir Putin has claimed victory in the Russian presidential election, with exit polls giving him 58.3% of the vote. We'll be following the latest reaction as well as providing updates on the planned opposition protests. Opposition activists have reacted furiously, claiming the vote was marred by widespread election fraud. The election took place against a backdrop of large demonstrations against Putin - the biggest since the fall of the USSR - and thousands of protesters are due to take to the streets today to express their discontent with the result. | 8.56am: Good morning. Vladimir Putin has claimed victory in the Russian presidential election, with exit polls giving him 58.3% of the vote. We'll be following the latest reaction as well as providing updates on the planned opposition protests. Opposition activists have reacted furiously, claiming the vote was marred by widespread election fraud. The election took place against a backdrop of large demonstrations against Putin - the biggest since the fall of the USSR - and thousands of protesters are due to take to the streets today to express their discontent with the result. |
| Putin has denied the allegations of voter fraud, with Stanislav Govorukhin, his campaign chief, proclaiming: | Putin has denied the allegations of voter fraud, with Stanislav Govorukhin, his campaign chief, proclaiming: |
| These were the cleanest elections in all of Russia's history. | These were the cleanest elections in all of Russia's history. |
| But the Guardian's former Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, writes that Putin is catching up with notorious Soviet leaders of bygone days: | But the Guardian's former Moscow correspondent, Luke Harding, writes that Putin is catching up with notorious Soviet leaders of bygone days: |
| Sunday night was Vladimir Putin's Brezhnev moment. It was when he ceased simply being an elected leader and segued towards a lifetime presidency. Having neatly sidestepped the rules by doing a stint as prime minister (no Russian leader can serve more than two consecutive presidential terms) Putin can now go on and on. Brezhnev did 18 years, Stalin 31. Despite the whispers of revolution lapping at the Kremlin's walls, who would bet against Vladimir matching Leonid? | Sunday night was Vladimir Putin's Brezhnev moment. It was when he ceased simply being an elected leader and segued towards a lifetime presidency. Having neatly sidestepped the rules by doing a stint as prime minister (no Russian leader can serve more than two consecutive presidential terms) Putin can now go on and on. Brezhnev did 18 years, Stalin 31. Despite the whispers of revolution lapping at the Kremlin's walls, who would bet against Vladimir matching Leonid? |
| For a long time now, "elections" in Russia's ritualised imitation democracy have lacked one crucial element: drama. This was no different. | For a long time now, "elections" in Russia's ritualised imitation democracy have lacked one crucial element: drama. This was no different. |
| Since he announced last autumn that he was standing for a third time to be president – taking his chair back from Dmitry Medvedev – Putin's victory was a foregone conclusion. It was achieved against a bunch of uninspiring hand-picked opponents, with the invincible advantage of 24-hour pro-Putin state television. There was never any doubt about the result. | Since he announced last autumn that he was standing for a third time to be president – taking his chair back from Dmitry Medvedev – Putin's victory was a foregone conclusion. It was achieved against a bunch of uninspiring hand-picked opponents, with the invincible advantage of 24-hour pro-Putin state television. There was never any doubt about the result. |
| But the Putin who returns to the Kremlin in May faces a radically different Russia from the quiescent one he has ruled for the past 12 years. Although he still enjoys support in the provinces, for the protesters who will gather on Monday in their tens of thousands in Moscow's Pushkin Square he has become a figure of loathing and derision. | But the Putin who returns to the Kremlin in May faces a radically different Russia from the quiescent one he has ruled for the past 12 years. Although he still enjoys support in the provinces, for the protesters who will gather on Monday in their tens of thousands in Moscow's Pushkin Square he has become a figure of loathing and derision. |
In an editorial, the Guardian writes: | In an editorial, the Guardian writes: |
| After the collapse of the popularity of his party, United Russia, in December, Putin needs to build a party and a new consensus. It will have to be a coalition if it is to address the core issues that brought so many of Russia's best and brightest out on to the streets. | After the collapse of the popularity of his party, United Russia, in December, Putin needs to build a party and a new consensus. It will have to be a coalition if it is to address the core issues that brought so many of Russia's best and brightest out on to the streets. |
| He has thus far made minimal concessions to the democratic awakening stirred in December. He had changed the laws on registering parties and candidates at future elections, but touched little else. Even his supporters do not know how Putin can avoid stagnation if he continues on the same path. But his opponents know one thing: the more Putin rubs his power into their faces, the more he risks provoking the explosion nobody in Russia wants. | He has thus far made minimal concessions to the democratic awakening stirred in December. He had changed the laws on registering parties and candidates at future elections, but touched little else. Even his supporters do not know how Putin can avoid stagnation if he continues on the same path. But his opponents know one thing: the more Putin rubs his power into their faces, the more he risks provoking the explosion nobody in Russia wants. |