Vladimir Putin is poised to win a third term as Russian president, but the opposition has vowed to continue protests today amid claims that the election was marred by widespread violations.
Two exit polls released after Russia’s 95,000 polling stations closed showed the former spy who has dominated his country’s politics for the last dozen years gaining about 59 per cent of the vote. If confirmed, the result would represent a comfortable victory for the prime minister with no need for a second round of voting.
A tearful Mr Putin wasted no time in declaring victory, addressing thousands of Russian flag-waving supporters at a victory rally outside the Kremlin. “I promised we would win. And we did win!” he said, to cheers from his supporters last night. “We won an open and honest battle.