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Medvedev Wins in a Landslide

Putin pupil has asked current prez to be PM

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 2, 2008 2:53 PM CST
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(Newser) – On par with expectations, Dmitry Medvedev has won Russia’s presidential election with 69.6% of the vote, an exit poll says. His closest rival took just 17.2%. The victory likely means little change for Russia, as Medvedev has asked current president Vladimir Putin to be his prime minister after Putin leaves office in May, Reuters reports.

Russians see Medvedev, a Putin disciple, as the best way to maintain the country’s current economic boom. But some observers raised questions about the fairness of the one-sided election. “This is a KGB operation to transfer power from one person to another,” said a former premier. Medvedev's rival threatened legal action over irregularities, but did not challenge Medvedev’s victory.

People hold flags of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Young Russia as they watch a concert in Red Square with St. Basil's Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor Dmitry Medvedev was cruising to an easy victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday, a...
People hold flags of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Young Russia as they watch a concert in Red Square with St. Basil's Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. Vladimir...   (Associated Press)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential candidate Dmitry Medvevev are seen during a meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Sunday, in this Dec. 30, 2007 file photo. Exit polls show a landslide victory for Medvedev, who has asked Putin to be prime minister....
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential candidate Dmitry Medvevev are seen during a meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Sunday, in...   (Associated Press)
Election commission workers empty ballot boxes at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. An exit poll from Russia's presidential election show Vladimir Putin's chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev cruising to an easy victory. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Election commission workers empty ballot boxes at a polling station in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. An exit poll from Russia's presidential election show Vladimir Putin's chosen successor...   (Associated Press)
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Dmitry Medvedev casts his ballot paper at a polling station in Moscow Sunday, March 2, 2008. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Pool)
Russian First Deputy Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Dmitry Medvedev casts his ballot paper at a polling station in Moscow Sunday, March 2, 2008. (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Dmitry Astakhov, Pool)   (Associated Press)
Young people watch a concert in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor Dmitry Medvedev was cruising to an easy victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday, a result expected to give significant power to the outgoing president. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Young people watch a concert in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 2, 2008. Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor Dmitry Medvedev was cruising to an easy victory in Russia's presidential election...   (Associated Press)
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More on Medvedev's victory
Washington Post

A Medvedev profile
RussiaBlog.org

 
Russia • Vladimir Putin • KGB • Dmitry Medvedev • exit polls • Russian elections • presidential election • Gennady Zyuganov • Russian president • landslide victory

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