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Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin wins Moscow mayor election Putin ally Sergei Sobyanin wins Moscow mayor election
(about 1 hour later)
Kremlin-backed candidate Sergei Sobyanin has won the election for mayor of Moscow, results released by Russian election officials indicate. Kremlin-backed candidate Sergei Sobyanin has won the election for mayor of Moscow, Russian election officials have announced.
After a nearly complete vote count, Mr Sobyanin secured 51.3% - just above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second-round ballot. Mr Sobyanin secured 51.3% - just above the 50% threshold needed to avoid a second-round ballot.
His main rival, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, obtained 27.3%. His main rival, opposition leader Alexei Navalny, polled 27.2%.
He called for a run-off and refused to recognise the results, saying they had been "deliberately falsified". Mr Navalny called for a run-off and refused to recognise the results, saying they had been "deliberately falsified".
Mr Navalny said he had won enough votes to force a second round and that the count had been marred by "many serious violations".Mr Navalny said he had won enough votes to force a second round and that the count had been marred by "many serious violations".
Mr Sobyanin said the election had been transparent and that a run-off ballot was unlikely. But Moscow's electoral commission said there had been no serious violations and a run-off would not take place.
"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. With all the votes counted, the commission said turnout in the Moscow vote was a low 32%. The Communist candidate, Ivan Melnikov, came third with 10.7%.
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. Mr Sobyanin, once President Putin's chief of staff, told supporters earlier the election had been transparent.
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. "We have something to be proud of," he said at a late-night rally in Bolotnaya Square. "We have organised the most honest and open elections in the history of Moscow."
'Putin decides''Putin decides'
Turnout in the Moscow vote was low, with officials estimating the proportion of voters at around 32%. The Communist candidate, Ivan Melnikov, came third with 10.7%. Mr Navalny warned late on Sunday that if he was denied a run-off, he would "appeal to the citizens and ask them to take to the streets of Moscow".
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". City authorities have allowed him to hold a rally on Monday evening with up to 2,500 supporters.
"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. 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.
The pro-democracy leader is currently on bail after being found guilty of embezzlement in what he insists was a political trial. "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 as partial results were still coming in.
The opposition 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 won by a narrow majority in Yekaterinburg, the main city in Russia's Urals industrial zone, election officials say.In other mayoral votes on Sunday, anti-heroin campaigner Yevgeny Roizman won by a narrow majority in Yekaterinburg, the main city in Russia's Urals industrial zone, election officials say.
Mr Roizman, a former MP often critical of Kremlin policy, defeated ruling party candidate Yakov Silin by a margin of 30% to 26%, according to preliminary 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, defeated ruling party candidate Yakov Silin by a margin of 30% to 26%, according to preliminary results. Unlike Moscow, the city's mayor is elected by a simple majority in a single round.
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.
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.