Incoming Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has pledged to uphold Vladimir Putin's policies today after a big election win that critics said was stage-managed to let the outgoing Kremlin leader hold onto power.
Russian president Vladimir Putin, left, stands with incoming leader Dmitry Medvedevduring a concert in Red Square, Moscow, yesterday
Western observers claimed the election was not fully fair or democratic but broadly reflected the will of the people.
"The results of the presidential election . . . are a reflection of the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was unfortunately not tapped," said Andreas Gross, head of a monitoring group from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
He said the result "amounted, in effect, to a vote of confidence in the incumbent president", adding most of the flaws seen in Russia's parliamentary election last December were repeated. "Equal access of candidates to media has not improved," Mr Gross said.
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe refused to monitor the election, citing a lack of official co-operation.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the EC was confident Mr Medvedev's victory would boost Russia-EU ties but urged Moscow to honour commitments, including those on democracy and human rights.
Mr Medvedev's first public appearance after results were released was to stand with his mentor Mr Putin on stage at a victory concert in Red Square.
Mr Medvedev (42), who will be the youngest Russian leader since Tsar Nicholas II when he is sworn in on May 7th, has asked former KGB spy Mr Putin to be his prime minister.
Dmitry Medvedev
Mr Putin (55) was prevented by term limits from running for re-election. But it is still not clear which of the two will really be in charge, and analysts question if their power-sharing arrangement can last long in a nation used to having a single, strong leader.
Many Russians are enjoying the benefits of the biggest economic boom in a generation - fuelled largely by oil exports - and they see Mr Medvedev as the natural heir to Mr Putin and the best chance of hanging on to their new-found prosperity.
"I think [my presidency] will be a direct continuation," said Mr Medvedev, referring to Mr Putin's eight years in office.
But Mr Medvedev, a former law professor who has spent most of his working life in Mr Putin's shadow, said he would not let his powerful prime minister encroach on his authority.
"The president's main office is in the Kremlin. The prime minister's permanent location is the White House [government headquarters]," he told reporters.
With 99.45 per cent of the votes counted, Mr Medvedev had 70.23 per cent. His nearest rival, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, had 17.76 per cent. Voter turnout was 69.65 per cent, the Election Commission said.