Presidential elections are over in Russia as the polling stations closed on Sunday evening. According to exit-polls by the Foundation for public opinion studies, the candidate supported by Vladimir Putin, Dmitri Medvedev, is way above his rivals with some 67.4% of the votes. He is followed by Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov with 19.5%, nationalist leader Jirinovski with 10.5%, while pro-Western Andrey Bogdanov only managed to lure 1.4% of the votes.
Russians voted more actively than in the previous parliamentary elections in 2007 or in the presidential elections of four years ago. According to preliminary data, by 7 p.m. Moscow time the turnout at national level stood at over 60%. The most active participation was reported in Chechnya, with a turnout of 91%.
In Siberia, over 80% of the voters showed up to cast their votes as well. Overall, the participation rate is believed to be 3-5% higher than in the December 2007 parliamentary elections, according to central electoral commission officials. Presidential elections are over in Russia as the polling stations closed on Sunday evening. According to exit-polls by the Foundation for public opinion studies, the candidate supported by Vladimir Putin, Dmitri Medvedev, is way above his rivals with some 67.4% of the votes. He is followed by Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov with 19.5%, nationalist leader Jirinovski with 10.5%, while pro-Western Andrey Bogdanov only managed to lure 1.4% of the votes.
Russians voted more actively than in the previous parliamentary elections in 2007 or in the presidential elections of four years ago. According to preliminary data, by 7 p.m. Moscow time the turnout at national level stood at over 60%. The most active participation was reported in Chechnya, with a turnout of 91%.
In Siberia, over 80% of the voters showed up to cast their votes as well.