It's no surprise that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won Sunday's election to return to the more powerful post he previously held 鈥� president. His victory was widely expected. Putin appears to have gotten about two-thirds of the votes.
Also not surprising: Sunday's results are being followed with reports today that, , "the opposition and independent observers insisted the vote had been marred by widespread violations."
: "International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were 'serious problems' with the election, which meant that the result was 'never in doubt.' "
, there are "widespread allegations of vote rigging."
, NPR's Corey Flintoff said one of the more common complaints was about "carousel voting" 鈥� groups of people being driven from one voting place to another, and at each one using absentee ballots to vote. But Putin, Corey reports, said in a fiery speech after results were in that there had been an "open and honest battle" and that foreigners 鈥� perhaps referring to the U.S. 鈥� had been trying to influence the results.
It also appeared at moments, , that Putin teared up during his address on Sunday:
"Hs voice was, unusually, cracking.
" 'I asked you once, will we win?' he said. 'And we won!' he declared, to cheering and flag-waving from his fans.
"Putin later blamed the wind for making his eyes water."
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