This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-17257644

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Russia election clearly skewed for Putin, say monitors Russia election clearly skewed for Putin, say monitors
(40 minutes later)
 
Russia's presidential elections were "clearly skewed" in favour of the winner, Vladimir Putin, international monitors have said.Russia's presidential elections were "clearly skewed" in favour of the winner, Vladimir Putin, international monitors have said.
Preliminary results showed that Mr Putin, who is currently prime minister, won more than 63% of votes.Preliminary results showed that Mr Putin, who is currently prime minister, won more than 63% of votes.
There have been widespread claims of fraud and the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) said the result was "never in doubt".There have been widespread claims of fraud and the Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) said the result was "never in doubt".
Opposition groups have called for mass protests against Mr Putin's win.Opposition groups have called for mass protests against Mr Putin's win.
In a statement on the OSCE website, the monitors said that while all candidates had been able to campaign freely, there had been "serious problems" from the start, conditions were "clearly skewed in favour of one of the contestants, current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin".In a statement on the OSCE website, the monitors said that while all candidates had been able to campaign freely, there had been "serious problems" from the start, conditions were "clearly skewed in favour of one of the contestants, current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin".
"The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain," said Tonino Picula, co-ordinator of the OSCE mission."The point of elections is that the outcome should be uncertain," said Tonino Picula, co-ordinator of the OSCE mission.
"This was not the case in Russia. There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt.""This was not the case in Russia. There was no real competition and abuse of government resources ensured that the ultimate winner of the election was never in doubt."
'Complete impudence''Complete impudence'
The election was held against a backdrop of discontent, sparked by allegations of widespread fraud during December's parliamentary elections in favour of Mr Putin's United Russia party.The election was held against a backdrop of discontent, sparked by allegations of widespread fraud during December's parliamentary elections in favour of Mr Putin's United Russia party.
The monitors said that the demand for "honest elections" by both citizens and candidates had led to "greater civic involvement in observation efforts to enhance the integrity of the process".The monitors said that the demand for "honest elections" by both citizens and candidates had led to "greater civic involvement in observation efforts to enhance the integrity of the process".
"But the process deteriorated during the vote count which was assessed negatively in almost one-third of polling stations observed due to procedural irregularities," they said."But the process deteriorated during the vote count which was assessed negatively in almost one-third of polling stations observed due to procedural irregularities," they said.
They urged the Russian government to investigate the allegations thoroughly.They urged the Russian government to investigate the allegations thoroughly.
The European Union's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton was also urging Russia to address "shortcomings" over the vote, a spokeswoman said.The European Union's foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton was also urging Russia to address "shortcomings" over the vote, a spokeswoman said.
Maja Kocijanic said the EU shared the OSCE assessment of the polls, but was looking forward to working with Mr Putin and the new government "in full support of Russia's modernisation agenda".Maja Kocijanic said the EU shared the OSCE assessment of the polls, but was looking forward to working with Mr Putin and the new government "in full support of Russia's modernisation agenda".
Earlier Golos, a leading Russian independent election watchdog, said it had received more than 3,000 reports of voting fraud.Earlier Golos, a leading Russian independent election watchdog, said it had received more than 3,000 reports of voting fraud.
The polls could be "characterised as usual for the last decade of Russian elections - with an insufficient level of competition, state interference in the election process and on several occasions forced voting".The polls could be "characterised as usual for the last decade of Russian elections - with an insufficient level of competition, state interference in the election process and on several occasions forced voting".
Other allegations, including some videos purporting to show evidence of voting irregularities, have been circulating online. There were reports of "carousel voting", with voters being bussed between polling stations to cast multiple ballots, and of people being paid to vote for Mr Putin.Other allegations, including some videos purporting to show evidence of voting irregularities, have been circulating online. There were reports of "carousel voting", with voters being bussed between polling stations to cast multiple ballots, and of people being paid to vote for Mr Putin.
Alexei Navalny, a popular protest leader, told Reuters he had received reports of violations all day and that the carousels were "complete impudence".Alexei Navalny, a popular protest leader, told Reuters he had received reports of violations all day and that the carousels were "complete impudence".
Mr Navalny told the Associated Press the government had "falsified the election" to avoid the vote going to a second round, believing that would "show weakness".Mr Navalny told the Associated Press the government had "falsified the election" to avoid the vote going to a second round, believing that would "show weakness".
But Alexei Pushkov, an adviser to Mr Putin, told the BBC that while there "may have may be some violations" they had happened on all sides and would not have distorted the final result.But Alexei Pushkov, an adviser to Mr Putin, told the BBC that while there "may have may be some violations" they had happened on all sides and would not have distorted the final result.
Mr Pushkov said the allegations should be investigated and those responsible brought to court.Mr Pushkov said the allegations should be investigated and those responsible brought to court.
Russian media quoted one independent US election observer as saying the principles of election law had been "met in full".Russian media quoted one independent US election observer as saying the principles of election law had been "met in full".
Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters in Moscow on Sunday night, an emotional Mr Putin said he had won in an open and honest battle.Speaking to tens of thousands of supporters in Moscow on Sunday night, an emotional Mr Putin said he had won in an open and honest battle.
"I promised you we would win, and we won - glory to Russia!" he said."I promised you we would win, and we won - glory to Russia!" he said.
He said his victory, despite large scale anti-government protests in recent months, showed that "no-one can force anything on us".He said his victory, despite large scale anti-government protests in recent months, showed that "no-one can force anything on us".
Mr Putin moved into the post of prime minister in 2008 because of a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term as president.Mr Putin moved into the post of prime minister in 2008 because of a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term as president.
He will return to the presidency in May - replacing his close ally Dmitry Medvedev - and remain in post until 2018, when he could then run for another six-year term.He will return to the presidency in May - replacing his close ally Dmitry Medvedev - and remain in post until 2018, when he could then run for another six-year term.
Protest leaders have called for tens of thousands to take to the streets over the result.Protest leaders have called for tens of thousands to take to the streets over the result.
But the authorities have limited the number legally allowed to attend the rallies and there is tight security around Moscow, with 6,000 extra police brought in from outside.But the authorities have limited the number legally allowed to attend the rallies and there is tight security around Moscow, with 6,000 extra police brought in from outside.
In what some analysts said was an apparent concession to protesters, it was announced on Monday that Mr Medvedev had ordered a legal review of the conviction of former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.In what some analysts said was an apparent concession to protesters, it was announced on Monday that Mr Medvedev had ordered a legal review of the conviction of former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky - once Russia's richest man and a prominent critic of the Kremlin - was found guilty of embezzlement in 2010 in what he said was a politically motivated trial.Khodorkovsky - once Russia's richest man and a prominent critic of the Kremlin - was found guilty of embezzlement in 2010 in what he said was a politically motivated trial.