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Medvedev wins Russian election

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, delivers a speech next to his successor, Dmitry Medvedev, as they make a surprise appearance at a rock concert near Red Square in Moscow on Sunday after the release of preliminary results. PHOTO: AFP

The West cast doubt on Russia's presidential election yesterday after Dmitry Medvedev won a landslide victory and vowed to follow the course set by outgoing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Near-complete results gave Medvedev 70.2 percent of Sunday's vote, crushing his nearest rival, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, who won 17.8 percent, the central elections commission said.

But allegations that the landslide was stage-managed by the Kremlin raised widespread criticism of the election's legitimacy.

The sole Western observer mission present for the poll, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said the poll failed to reflect Russia's "democratic potential."

"We think there is no freedom in this election," PACE mission chief Andreas Gross told journalists.

Western capitals offered qualified congratulations to Medvedev. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner described the election as "conducted Russian-style, with a victory known in advance."

Medvedev, the first deputy prime minister and head of gas monopoly Gazprom, will take over from Putin in May, where upon Putin will become prime minister.

The imminent prospect of an inexperienced president with his mentor as prime minister fed speculation in Russia over who would actually rule the world's biggest energy exporter.

Medvedev, 42, ruled out any weakening of the president's role, saying after his victory that the post's powers "flow from the Constitution and existing legislation and no one proposes to change them."

He also laid immediate claim to one of Putin's main responsibilities -- foreign policy.

"Foreign policy, according to the Constitution, is determined by the president," Medvedev said.

But he stressed that he would work with Putin, saying: "I'm sure our joint work and fully-fledged, effective ties can bring positive results for the country."

Also see: Putin's unwilling executioner?
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