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Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin set to win Moscow mayor poll Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin wins Moscow mayor election
(about 5 hours later)
Kremlin-backed candidate Sergei Sobyanin is set to win the election for mayor of the Russian capital Moscow, but by a narrow margin. Kremlin-backed candidate Sergei Sobyanin has won the election for mayor of Moscow by a narrow margin, results released by Russian election officials indicate.
But his main rival, pro-democracy movement leader Alexei Navalny, fared better than expected with 27% so far. After a nearly complete vote count, Mr Sobyanin secured 51.3% - just above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second-round ballot.
The charismatic politician has already called for a run-off, saying the results were "clear falsifications". His main rival, pro-democracy movement leader Alexei Navalny, obtained 27.3% .
Mr Sobyanin won about 52%, thus taking victory in the first round, partial official results indicate. He has called for a run-off, saying the results were "deliberately falsified".
According to the electoral commission, Mr Navalny has so far won some 27% based on over 80% of polling stations reporting. Mr Navalny said he had won enough votes to force a second round and that the count had been marred by "many serious violations".
However, the pro-democracy leader has strongly disputed the results, and says he won enough votes to force a run-off. But Mr Sobyanin said the election had been transparent and that a run-off ballot was unlikely.
"What we are seeing now are clear falsifications," he told reporters in a late-night briefing on Sunday. "Judging by the percentage of the counted ballots, we can say with a high certainty that there will be no second round," he told supporters earlier on Monday morning.
"We demand that a second round is held. If that is not done, we will appeal to the citizens and ask them to take to the streets of Moscow."
Mr Navalny is currently on bail after being found guilty of embezzlement in what he insists was a political trial.
If there is any serious suggestion of the election being rigged, large-scale protests will probably return to Moscow's streets, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow.If there is any serious suggestion of the election being rigged, large-scale protests will probably return to Moscow's streets, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Moscow.
In late 2011, Moscow was the scene of the biggest anti-government protests since Soviet times after a general election marred by allegations of ballot-rigging.
'Putin decides'
Mr Navalny had earlier warned that if he was denied a run-off, he would "appeal to the citizens and ask them to take to the streets of Moscow".
"Right now Sobyanin and his main supporter Vladimir Putin are deciding whether to have a relatively honest election and to have a second round, or not," he said on Sunday, as partial results were still coming in.
The pro-democracy leader is currently on bail after being found guilty of embezzlement in what he insists was a political trial.
In other mayoral votes on Sunday, anti-heroin campaigner Yevgeny Roizman appears to have won by a narrow majority in Yekaterinburg, the main city in Russia's Urals industrial zone.In other mayoral votes on Sunday, anti-heroin campaigner Yevgeny Roizman appears to have won by a narrow majority in Yekaterinburg, the main city in Russia's Urals industrial zone.
Mr Roizman, a former MP often critical of Kremlin policy, won 32% to 30% for the ruling party candidate Yakov Silin, according to partial results. Unlike Moscow, the city's mayor is elected by a simple majority in a single round.Mr Roizman, a former MP often critical of Kremlin policy, won 32% to 30% for the ruling party candidate Yakov Silin, according to partial results. Unlike Moscow, the city's mayor is elected by a simple majority in a single round.
'Putin decides'
Mr Navalny earlier told reporters that he would "not give up a single vote that we received".
"Right now Sobyanin and his main supporter Vladimir Putin are deciding whether to have a relatively honest election and to have a second round, or not," he added, as partial results were still coming in.
Turnout seems to have been low in Moscow, with 26.5% officially recorded as having cast their vote two hours before polling stations closed.Turnout seems to have been low in Moscow, with 26.5% officially recorded as having cast their vote two hours before polling stations closed.
Mayoral elections were abolished in Moscow in 2004 but re-instated as a concession to pro-democracy campaigners.Mayoral elections were abolished in Moscow in 2004 but re-instated as a concession to pro-democracy campaigners.
In late 2011, Moscow was the scene of the biggest anti-government protests since Soviet times after a general election marred by allegations of ballot-rigging.
Mr Navalny ran a Western-style campaign, holding informal meetings with voters outside metro stations and using glossy posters of himself with his family.Mr Navalny ran a Western-style campaign, holding informal meetings with voters outside metro stations and using glossy posters of himself with his family.
He is credited with bringing grassroots politics to the Russian capital, inspiring thousands of volunteers to support his campaign.He is credited with bringing grassroots politics to the Russian capital, inspiring thousands of volunteers to support his campaign.
Mr Sobyanin became mayor in 2010 after Yuri Luzhkov, who had governed the city for almost two decades, was forced out of office.Mr Sobyanin became mayor in 2010 after Yuri Luzhkov, who had governed the city for almost two decades, was forced out of office.
The Kremlin-backed candidate has kept a low profile during the race, shunning debates with the five other candidates.The Kremlin-backed candidate has kept a low profile during the race, shunning debates with the five other candidates.
In all, six candidates stood in the election.In all, six candidates stood in the election.