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| Title | Russia: Spokesman says Putin will win March vote in first round |
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Country | Russian Federation |
| Publication Date | 6 February 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia: Spokesman says Putin will win March vote in first round, 6 February 2012, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4f3bc75f21.html [accessed 2 June 2012] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Russia: Spokesman says Putin will win March vote in first round
February 06, 2012
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's spokesman says the large turnout at a pro-Putin rally in Moscow on February 4 shows Putin will win an outright victory in the first round of the upcoming presidential election.
Putin, who held the presidency between 2000 and 2008, is seeking a third term in the March 4 vote.
Authorities say some 190,000 people rallied in Moscow to voice support for Putin – compared to the 120,000 the opposition says defied freezing temperatures to demand Putin quit power.
RFE/RL correspondents on the scene said the pro-Putin crowd was, in fact, no larger than 15,000.
There have been reports that state employees were offered cash incentives or were ordered to join the pro-Putin rally.
Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in comments posted on Putin's campaign website, dismissed those reports and said that the outpouring of support at the February 4 rally and recent opinion polls "convincingly" point to a Putin win in the first round.
Compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
Topics: Elections,
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