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Russia in first 'downturn' vote Pro-Kremlin party leads in polls
(about 15 hours later)
Russians are voting in regional elections seen as the first test of the government's popularity since a sharp downturn in the country's economy. First results show that the governing United Russia party is leading in all nine regional polls held across Russia on Sunday, electoral officials say.
They say that the party is also heading the elections in a number of municipal elections held on the same day.
The polls are seen as the first test of the government's popularity since a sharp downturn in Russia's economy.
Opponents of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have criticised the polls as flawed.Opponents of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin have criticised the polls as flawed.
They said the governing United Russia party was using its control of the media to sway the vote in its favour.They said the governing United Russia party was using its control of the media to sway the vote in its favour.
United Russia dismissed the criticism as voters turned out to elect mayors and regional parliaments.United Russia dismissed the criticism as voters turned out to elect mayors and regional parliaments.
About a fifth of Russia's eligible voters were able to take part in Sunday's elections, which saw trial voting by internet in five regions.
Votes were being cast in 79 of the Russian Federation's 83 territories. Cities due to elect mayors included Novosibirsk in Siberia and Chelyabinsk in the Urals.
The central electoral committee said it had found no violations of electoral law capable of influencing the vote.The central electoral committee said it had found no violations of electoral law capable of influencing the vote.
Medvedev confident
About a fifth of Russia's eligible voters were able to take part in Sunday's elections, which saw trial voting by internet in five regions. The main part of the population is not yet feeling the crisis Alexei GrazhdankinDeputy head of independent polling group the Levada Centre
Votes were cast in 79 of the Russian Federation's 83 territories. Cities that were electing mayors included Novosibirsk in Siberia and Chelyabinsk in the Urals.
Correspondents say that a low turnout could signal voter dissatisfaction with the authorities.Correspondents say that a low turnout could signal voter dissatisfaction with the authorities.
Crisis 'not felt yet'
Wages have fallen in Russia and unemployment has jumped to its highest level in two and a half years, now standing at 5.8 million.Wages have fallen in Russia and unemployment has jumped to its highest level in two and a half years, now standing at 5.8 million.
The main part of the population is not yet feeling the crisis Alexei Grazhdankin deputy head of independent polling group the Levada Centre
Communist leader and veteran opposition politician Gennady Zyuganov described the governing party's campaign as "dirty and unforgiveable".Communist leader and veteran opposition politician Gennady Zyuganov described the governing party's campaign as "dirty and unforgiveable".
The Communists hope nonetheless to put up a strong challenge in industrial regions like Bryansk in the south-west, where they believe they have as much as 60% support.The Communists hope nonetheless to put up a strong challenge in industrial regions like Bryansk in the south-west, where they believe they have as much as 60% support.
In an interview with Spanish media before flying to Madrid for a state visit, President Medvedev said he did not think the downturn would trigger instability in his country.In an interview with Spanish media before flying to Madrid for a state visit, President Medvedev said he did not think the downturn would trigger instability in his country.
"Present-day Russia's economic and social systems greatly differ from those that existed 10-15 years ago," he said."Present-day Russia's economic and social systems greatly differ from those that existed 10-15 years ago," he said.
"Fifteen years ago Russia was economically weak, it could not compete with major countries, it had lost its entire economic potential or at least a significant part of it."Fifteen years ago Russia was economically weak, it could not compete with major countries, it had lost its entire economic potential or at least a significant part of it.
"In recent years, we have managed to change the situation and, therefore, I believe that the current economic crisis will not damage social stability so severely.""In recent years, we have managed to change the situation and, therefore, I believe that the current economic crisis will not damage social stability so severely."
Alexei Grazhdankin, deputy head of independent polling group the Levada Centre, predicted that United Russia would win most of Sunday's votes by a large margin but its support was likely to fall by about 5% on previous elections.Alexei Grazhdankin, deputy head of independent polling group the Levada Centre, predicted that United Russia would win most of Sunday's votes by a large margin but its support was likely to fall by about 5% on previous elections.
"The main part of the population is not yet feeling the crisis," he told Reuters news agency."The main part of the population is not yet feeling the crisis," he told Reuters news agency.
"People who live on the periphery, in small towns and in villages, the effects of the crisis have not reached them.""People who live on the periphery, in small towns and in villages, the effects of the crisis have not reached them."