MOSCOW (Reuters) – International monitors said on Monday Russia’s presidential election was clearly skewed to favor Vladimir Putin, a verdict that could spur protesters planning to take to the streets to challenge his right to rule.

Putin, who secured almost 64 percent of votes on Sunday, portrayed his emphatic victory for a third term as president as a strong mandate to deal with the biggest anti-Kremlin protests since he rose to power in 2000.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin faces new protests on Monday to challenge his victory in a presidential election he said had prevented Russia from falling into the hands of enemies trying to usurp power.

Putin’s opponents, complaining of widespread fraud in Sunday’s election, said they did not recognise the results and would rally near the Kremlin at 7 p.m. (1500 GMT).

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin triumphed in Russia’s presidential election on Sunday and, tears rolling down his cheeks, called his victory a turning point that had prevented the country falling into the hands of enemies.

Putin’s opponents complained of widespread fraud, refused to recognise the results and said they would press ahead on Monday with the biggest protests since he rose to power 12 years ago.

MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin won a
resounding victory in Russia’s presidential election on Sunday,
exit polls showed, securing a new six-year term in the Kremlin
and a mandate to deal with opposition protests after a vote that
opponents said was marred by fraud.

Two television exit polls, released after voting ended at
1700 GMT, forecast the prime minister would win 59.3 and 58.3
percent of the votes, easily enough to make a runoff against the
second-placed candidate unnecessary.

MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin won a
resounding victory in Russia’s presidential election on Sunday,
exit polls showed, securing a new six-year term in the Kremlin
and a mandate to deal with opposition protests after a vote that
opponents said was marred by fraud.

Two television exit polls, released after voting ended at
1700 GMT, forecast the former KGB spy would win 59.3 and 58.3
percent of the votes, enough to make a runoff against the
second-placed candidate unnecessary.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin won a resounding victory in Russia’s presidential election on Sunday, exit polls showed, securing a new six-year term in the Kremlin and a mandate to deal with opposition protests after a vote that opponents said was marred by fraud.

Two television exit polls, released after voting ended at 1700 GMT, forecast the former KGB spy would win 59.3 and 58.3 percent of the votes, enough to make a runoff against the second-placed candidate unnecessary.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin is all but certain to return to Russia’s presidency with the same swagger, bravado and fighting talk against the West as when he entered the Kremlin 12 years ago.

But the country he will get the chance to lead for another six years after an election on Sunday has changed, and he is on a collision course with Western powers and a newly confident middle class demanding a freer and fairer Russia.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – One by one, young Russians take the microphone in a smoky Moscow bar, struggling to be heard over jazz music, to swap ideas for keeping alive a nascent protest movement against Vladimir Putin.

Discussion at their weekly meeting is dominated by mundane matters: Who will write the next protest leaflets? Does anyone have access to a photocopier to produce them? Are there any volunteers to distribute them?

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Vladimir Putin’s opponents vowed on Sunday to press on with demonstrations against his 12-year domination of Russia after tens of thousands attended a march which kept up the momentum of their protest movement.

“We’ll be back,” the organizers said on a social network site, one day after demonstrators defied the cold to stage the third mass rally since anger mounted over alleged fraud in a parliamentary election won by Putin’s party on December 4.

MOSCOW (Reuters) – It took several minutes and a woolly hat to resolve the latest differences among the loose alliance of Russian opposition groups challenging Vladimir Putin’s 12-year rule.

Unable to agree on the order of a protest march through Moscow on Saturday, the organizers, gathered round a few tables shoved together in a crowded Moscow cultural centre, borrowed the hat from a woman bystander and drew lots from it.