Putin's party hangs on, faces vote fraud charges
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's party saw its majority in Russia's parliament weaken sharply, according to preliminary election results released Monday, a humiliating setback for the man who has steadily tightened his grip on the nation
(AP) Moscow -- Some opposition politicians and election monitors said even a result of around 50 percent for Putin's United Russia party was inflated because of vote fraud. Their claims were backed by European election observers, who pointed to procedural violations and serious indications of ballot stuffing after a campaign slanted in favor of United Russia.
"To me, this election was like a game in which only some players are allowed to compete," Heidi Tagliavini, the head of the European mission, said at a news conference.
United Russia is still expected to retain its majority in the lower house and Putin is all but certain to win next March's presidential election, but Sunday's vote badly dented his carefully groomed image. It reflected a strong public frustration with the lack of political competition, ubiquitous official corruption and the gap between rich and poor.
