Up to 1 in 3 Medvedev votes was fraudulent, says researcher
Times (UK) Apr 18, 08 6:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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As many as one in three votes for Dmitry Medvedev in Russia's presidential election were fraudulent, according to a comprehensive study by a computer analyst. Not only was Medvedev's total inflated by about 7 points, but the turnout was also exaggerated, reports the Times of London. That means that only a third of Russia's 100 million voters actually backed Vladimir Putin's successor, according to the analysis.
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In Medvedev, quirky résumé masks loyal junior partner
New Yorker Mar 4, 08 12:20 PM CST
(Newser)
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Trivia on Russian president-elect Dmitry Medvedev—that he is a swimmer, a yoga lover, and Deep Purple buff—merely masks a man wholly devoted to Vladimir Putin, New Yorker editor David Remnick writes. "Trivia domesticated even the worst Soviet-era résumés," he reminds us: Catherine the Great loved horses, Nicholas II photography, and Alexander III the French horn. Medvedev's pastimes are just as trivial.
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Putin pupil has asked current prez to be PM
Reuters Mar 2, 08 2:53 PM CST
(Newser)
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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.
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Medvedev is Putin's hand-picked heir
CNN Mar 2, 08 9:09 AM CST
(Newser)
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Russians headed to the polls today to vote for a successor to President Vladimir Putin in what was expected to be rubber-stamp support for his hand-picked heir. Though voters have a choice, Putin aide Dmitry Medvedev faces no serious opposition. "I'm in a good mood. Spring is here," said Medvedev, 42.
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Russian workers told to vote, and who to vote for, says Guardian
Guardian (UK) Mar 1, 08 7:31 AM CST
(Newser)
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The Russian government is plotting widespread fraud in tomorrow's presidential election, Russian sources claim in a Guardian report. Ballot boxes will be stuffed and public sector workers have been pressured to vote to ensure a landslide victory for Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor, Dmitry Medvedev. Analysts say Medvedev would win anyway, but the Kremlin is seeking a 68-70% turnout, with about 72% voting for Medvedev.
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Mentor wants mandate for Medvedev
Times (UK) Feb 29, 08 4:35 PM CST
(Newser)
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Even with the outcome all but certain, Vladimir Putin took to the airwaves today to urge Russians to vote in Sunday’s elections. Putin wants to enable his hand-picked presidential successor, Dmitry Medvedev, to claim a strong mandate, so the government is pushing for turnout of at least 65%, the London Times reports. That puts pressure on regional politicians and factory owners .
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OPINION
Putin-Medvedev partnership at odds with country's wish for single, strong leader
Der Spiegel Feb 27, 08 1:15 PM CST
(Newser)
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When Dmitry Medvedev takes over as Russia's president and Vladimir Putin assumes the mantle of prime minister, after Sunday's elections, Russia will be moving into uncharted territory—and Der Spiegel writer Christian Neef isn’t confident it’ll work. Putin’s Russia isn’t nearly as stable as it looks, and though it appears Putin will still be in control, Russians have never shared power well.
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Just in time for Russian elections, gag movie hits the fans
CNN Feb 14, 08 11:12 AM CST
(Newser)
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A warm and fuzzy Russian movie about a politician's rise to the Kremlin, released today for Valentine's Day, bears more than a passing resemblance to Russian President Vladimir Putin, CNN reports. "It's a film about the life of a politician, about love, and the relationships every person has," gushed the producer of The Kiss Is Off the Record.
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Ex-PM decries 'farce' after disqualification from presidential race
BBC Jan 27, 08 11:01 AM CST
(Newser)
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Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Putin loyalist who became one of his fiercest critics, has been disqualified from the presidential ballot, reports the BBC. Russia's electoral commission ruled that too many of his supporting signatures were fraudulent—up to 5% is OK. Kasyanov has another theory: "There is no doubt that the decision not to register my candidacy was taken personally by Vladimir Putin."
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Medvedev launches
bid with 79% support
in polls, virtually no competition
Bloomberg Jan 11, 08 12:46 PM CST
(Newser)
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Vladimir Putin's hand-picked replacement has launched his presidential campaign with a 2-day visit to Russia's far west. Dmitry Medvedev has seen his popularity soar since the president announced he would like to see him as his successor: he's now polling 79%, higher than Putin did before his 2004 landslide victory, Bloomberg reports. Barred from a third term, Putin has said he would agree to become Medvedev's PM.
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Opposition candidate accuses Kremlin of turning presidential contest into 'farce'
Washington Post Dec 27, 07 8:30 AM CST
(Newser)
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Another candidate has dropped out of the race for the Russian presidency, complaining of dirty tricks, the Washington Post reports. Boris Nemtsov, leader of a mainstream liberal party, said the uneven playing field was turning the contest into a farce. He accused the Kremlin of using "Goebbels-like propaganda, force and bureaucratic pressures" against rivals.
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Gov't foiled opposition's nominating meetings
Associated Press Dec 13, 07 9:22 AM CST
(Newser)
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Former chess champ and Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov won't be running for president this March, but not for lack of trying: Other Russia, his political party, was unable to book a Moscow conference hall due to government pressure on landlords, said his spokeswoman. Today is the last day Russian law permits parties to hold nominating meetings.
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Monitors say gov't tampered with polls Kasparov calls 'dirtiest'
CNN Dec 3, 07 7:53 AM CST
(Newser)
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Even as Vladimir Putin hailed his party's decisive victory in Russian elections yesterday as a mandate, international elections observers said the polling was neither free nor fair, and complained of government interference. State employees were reportedly ordered to vote for Putin, CNN reports, and Garry Kasparov’s Other Russia party was left off the ballot entirely. “We cannot say there were fair elections,” said one observer.
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PM's party expected to garner landslide victory in parliamentary election
Reuters Dec 2, 07 2:14 PM CST
(Newser)
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Vladimir Putin had garnered more than 60% of the vote in parliamentary elections today, hailed by the Kremlin as continued popular mandate for his policies even after his term ends. Putin's United Russia party, boosted by the country's oil boom, was expected to grab a landslide victory, but opposition and watchdog groups were calling foul play well before the election got under way, Reuters reports.
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