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Monitors criticise Russian poll Muted welcome for Russia leader
(about 6 hours later)
The only Western observer group monitoring Russia's presidential election says the poll was flawed. Western leaders have congratulated Dmitry Medvedev on becoming Russia's new president, but Western observers have highlighted flaws in the election.
Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, won a landslide victory on Sunday. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he was confident that the EU-Russia "strategic partnership" would develop.
But observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) said Russia's "democratic potential" was unfulfilled. German congratulations were mixed with regret about apparent irregularities. Mr Medvedev, 42, won by a landslide.
The European Commission, France and Germany have congratulated Mr Medvedev, voicing hope that ties will improve. In Moscow, police arrested dozens of people ahead of an opposition rally.
Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said he was confident that the EU-Russia "strategic partnership" would develop.
Graph showing election results Graph showing election results
A spokesman for the German chancellor said Angela Merkel "wishes Mr Medvedev good luck and success". But he also said that in the campaign "democratic rules were not always upheld". More than 100 officers swooped on opposition activists as they were gathering for the unauthorised demonstration in the Russian capital on Monday.
Mr Medvedev's opponents say the poll was marred by violations, including coercion to vote - a charge denied by Moscow. Some of the protesters lit flares and chanted "Your election is a farce!" Reuters reports.
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With nearly 100% of the ballots counted, Mr Medvedev won 70.23% of the vote, Russia's election commission said. Mr Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, won 70.23% of the vote on Sunday, with nearly all votes counted, according to official results.
Mr Medvedev said he hoped to work in an "effective tandem" with Mr Putin as his prime minister. "I think (my presidency) will be a direct continuation," he said, referring to Mr Putin's eight years in office.
Mr Medvedev's nearest rival was Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, with 17.76% of the vote. He vowed to go to court over alleged fraud, Itar-Tass news agency reports. His nearest rival was Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, with 17.76% of the vote. He vowed to go to court over alleged fraud, Itar-Tass news agency reports.
Russian poll observers said many state sector workers had been told by their bosses to vote. Britain said it would "judge the new [Russian] government on its actions", while French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the EU and Russia had to start a new dialogue.
Various inducements were also offered to mobilise voters, including cheap food, free cinema tickets or toys, correspondents say. In Washington, a White House spokesman said "the United States looks forward to working with him [Medvedev]" - but he avoided commenting on the election itself.
Turnout was high, at 69.65%, the Russian election commission said. Flaws highlighted
"The results of the presidential election are a reflection of the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was, unfortunately, not tapped," the PACE 22-member observer mission said. Earlier, the head of observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Andreas Gross, said Russia's "democratic potential" was unfulfilled.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYRussia's future after the election will be bright as a Democratic nationSinnathamby, Canada class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4394">Send us your comments Never before have we had such an unimaginative political campaign Novaya Gazeta href="/1/hi/world/europe/7274714.stm">Press cool on Medvedev win
"In the elections, which had more the character of a plebiscite on the last eight years in this country, the people of Russia voted for the stability and continuity associated with the incumbent President [Putin] and the candidate promoted by him. Mr Gross, whose team was the only Western observer mission in Russia, said candidates had been denied equal access to the media, and registration procedures made it hard for independents to stand.
"The president-elect will have a solid mandate given to him by the majority of Russians," the statement said. But he conceded that Mr Medvedev had a solid mandate.
Mr Putin was barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term but is expected to become prime minister after his United Russia party won a huge majority in December's parliamentary election. "The results... are a reflection of the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was, unfortunately, not tapped," the PACE 22-member observer mission said.
The PACE monitors said Sunday's election "repeated most of the flaws" of December's vote. The elections "had more the character of a plebiscite on the last eight years in this country", PACE said, but added: "the president-elect will have a solid mandate given to him by the majority of Russians".
"Equal access of the candidates to the media and the public sphere in general has not improved, putting into question the fairness of the election," the PACE observers said. Mr Putin was barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term but is expected to become prime minister, after his United Russia party won a huge majority in December's parliamentary election.
Last month, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the continent's main election watchdog, decided to boycott the presidential election because of Moscow's restrictions. Last month, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the continent's main election watchdog, decided not to monitor the presidential election because of Moscow's restrictions.
HAVE YOUR SAYFrom the West's standpoint, Medvedev is by far a more attractive leader to deal withYevgeni, Moscow, Russia Send us your comments
Only 300 international observers were monitoring the 96,000 polling stations on Sunday.Only 300 international observers were monitoring the 96,000 polling stations on Sunday.
'Triumph of majority' After the polls, Mr Medvedev said he would control foreign policy and make the defence of Russian interests his chief priority. He confirmed that Mr Putin would be moving out of the Kremlin.
After the polls, Mr Medvedev said his policies would be "a direct continuation of that path which is being carried out by President Putin".
He said he would control foreign policy and make the defence of Russian interests his chief priority.
Mr Medvedev also confirmed that Mr Putin would be moving out of the Kremlin.
He said "the place of the prime minister and the government is the White House", referring to the government building a few miles from the Kremlin.
The mainly pro-Kremlin media have welcomed Mr Medvedev's victory.The mainly pro-Kremlin media have welcomed Mr Medvedev's victory.
Izvestia newspaper said the vote was a "triumph of the majority" that created a "bridge to the future for Russia".Izvestia newspaper said the vote was a "triumph of the majority" that created a "bridge to the future for Russia".
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