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| Monitors denounce Russia election | Monitors denounce Russia election |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Foreign observers have said that Russia's parliamentary election, won by President Vladimir Putin's party, was "not fair". | Foreign observers have said that Russia's parliamentary election, won by President Vladimir Putin's party, was "not fair". |
| The statement was made by a joint observer team of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe. | The statement was made by a joint observer team of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe. |
| With nearly 98% of ballots counted, Mr Putin's United Russia had 64.1% of Sunday's vote. | With nearly 98% of ballots counted, Mr Putin's United Russia had 64.1% of Sunday's vote. |
| Mr Putin said the poll was "legitimate" and a vote of public trust in him. | Mr Putin said the poll was "legitimate" and a vote of public trust in him. |
| The election showed that Russians would not allow their nation to develop along a "destructive path" as had happened in several former Soviet countries, Mr Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. | The election showed that Russians would not allow their nation to develop along a "destructive path" as had happened in several former Soviet countries, Mr Putin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. |
| Opposition claims of fraud have been rejected by Russia's electoral commission. | Opposition claims of fraud have been rejected by Russia's electoral commission. |
| 'Not a level playing field' | 'Not a level playing field' |
| The election "was not fair and failed to meet many OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections," the observers from the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly told a news conference in Moscow. | The election "was not fair and failed to meet many OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards for democratic elections," the observers from the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly told a news conference in Moscow. |
| The vote affirmed the main idea - that Vladimir Putin is the national leader Boris GryzlovLeader, United Russia href="/1/hi/world/europe/7124839.stm">Criticism cannot mask reality class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7123867.stm">Food, music welcome voters In pictures: Russia votes | |
| The statement said the polls "took place in an atmosphere which seriously limited political competition" and that "there was not a level political playing field". | The statement said the polls "took place in an atmosphere which seriously limited political competition" and that "there was not a level political playing field". |
| "Frequent abuse of administrative resources, media coverage strongly in favour of the ruling party and an election code whose cumulative effect hindered political pluralism" had tainted the polls, the observers said. | "Frequent abuse of administrative resources, media coverage strongly in favour of the ruling party and an election code whose cumulative effect hindered political pluralism" had tainted the polls, the observers said. |
| The OSCE had abandoned its plans to send a large team of monitors, accusing Moscow of imposing curbs and delaying visas. Russia denied the claims. | The OSCE had abandoned its plans to send a large team of monitors, accusing Moscow of imposing curbs and delaying visas. Russia denied the claims. |
| Only a much smaller group of members of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly had attended the election, leaving some 330 foreign monitors covering nearly 100,000 polling stations. | Only a much smaller group of members of the OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly had attended the election, leaving some 330 foreign monitors covering nearly 100,000 polling stations. |
| The opposition Communists and two other parties - A Fair Russia and the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party - were also poised to win seats in the 450-member lower chamber of the parliament, the State Duma. | The opposition Communists and two other parties - A Fair Russia and the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party - were also poised to win seats in the 450-member lower chamber of the parliament, the State Duma. |
| The country's liberal opposition parties looked certain to fail to clear the 7% threshold needed to enter parliament. | The country's liberal opposition parties looked certain to fail to clear the 7% threshold needed to enter parliament. |
| The Communists have said they will mount a legal challenge to the result, and will decide shortly whether to boycott the new parliament. | The Communists have said they will mount a legal challenge to the result, and will decide shortly whether to boycott the new parliament. |
| "We do not trust these figures announced by the central elections commission and we will conduct a parallel count," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said after the vote. | "We do not trust these figures announced by the central elections commission and we will conduct a parallel count," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said after the vote. |
| The Pro-Putin youth group Nashi is celebrating victory in Moscow | |
| In Russia's troubled region of Chechnya, run by pro-Kremlin President Ramzan Kadyrov, electoral officials have said a partial count showed United Russia won more than 99% of the votes on a 99% turnout. | In Russia's troubled region of Chechnya, run by pro-Kremlin President Ramzan Kadyrov, electoral officials have said a partial count showed United Russia won more than 99% of the votes on a 99% turnout. |
| The independent Russian monitoring group, Golos, has reported various violations during the voting ,which it said amounted to "an organised campaign". | The independent Russian monitoring group, Golos, has reported various violations during the voting ,which it said amounted to "an organised campaign". |
| It has claimed that in a number of cases state employees and students were pressured to vote, and those voting for United Russia were entered into a prize lottery in the city of St Petersburg. | It has claimed that in a number of cases state employees and students were pressured to vote, and those voting for United Russia were entered into a prize lottery in the city of St Petersburg. |
| The chairman of the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, has told Russian TV he knew of "no serious violations in the course of polling day". | The chairman of the Central Election Commission, Vladimir Churov, has told Russian TV he knew of "no serious violations in the course of polling day". |
| United Russia's leader Boris Gryzlov has acknowledged there had been violations but dismissed them as insignificant. | United Russia's leader Boris Gryzlov has acknowledged there had been violations but dismissed them as insignificant. |
| Options for Putin | Options for Putin |
| On Monday, some 10,000 members of the pro-Putin Nashi (Ours) youth group are holding a rally in Moscow to celebrate United Russia's victory. | On Monday, some 10,000 members of the pro-Putin Nashi (Ours) youth group are holding a rally in Moscow to celebrate United Russia's victory. |
| Mr Putin's party said the result showed he was the "national leader" | Mr Putin's party said the result showed he was the "national leader" |
| Nashi leaders have said the group should be on its guard against possible provocation from opposition parties and any attempts to instigate an Orange-style revolution, like in neighbouring Ukraine. | Nashi leaders have said the group should be on its guard against possible provocation from opposition parties and any attempts to instigate an Orange-style revolution, like in neighbouring Ukraine. |
| Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to stand down after his second term as president ends in March next year. | Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to stand down after his second term as president ends in March next year. |
| The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says his party's win will enable him to continue wielding great influence in politics - even if he is no longer in high office. | The BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says his party's win will enable him to continue wielding great influence in politics - even if he is no longer in high office. |
| Mr Putin announced this year he may seek the office of prime minister after his presidential term ends. | Mr Putin announced this year he may seek the office of prime minister after his presidential term ends. |
| If predictions are correct and the Liberal Democratic Party enters parliament, its candidate Andrei Lugovoi - who is wanted in the UK for the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko - will be guaranteed a seat. | If predictions are correct and the Liberal Democratic Party enters parliament, its candidate Andrei Lugovoi - who is wanted in the UK for the murder of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko - will be guaranteed a seat. |
| A parliamentary seat would grant him immunity from prosecution and extradition. | A parliamentary seat would grant him immunity from prosecution and extradition. |