Posted By lex, on March 4th, 2012
Vlad Putin “wins” the “election” in Russia:
Vladimir Putin and his supporters are celebrating victory in Russian elections, that will give him a third presidential term after spending the last four years as the country’s PM.
With nearly all the ballots counted, he secured nearly 64% of the vote, election officials say.
Mr Putin told supporters in Moscow he had won in an open and honest battle.
But opposition groups claim widespread fraud, and plan a protest rally in Moscow later on Monday.
The independent election watchdog Golos says Mr Putin won just over 50% – far less than the official figure given by the election commission.
It says it received numerous reports of “carousel” voting – in which voters cast multiple ballots.
Credit where it’s due, Mr. Putin ran a great campaign. And the security services.
