Putin urged to re-run elections amid 'fix' claims

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has called for the Russian elections to be reheld, denouncing "falsifications and ballot stuffing."

Thousands took to the streets following the election in which the United Russia party retained their majority and stayed in government. Police have cracked down on those protesting against the outcome, while allowing pro-Putin supporters to march in the Moscow city centre.

[Gallery: Russian vote 'fix' protests in pictures]

"More and more people are starting to believe that the election results are not fair," Gorbachev said. "I believe that ignoring public opinion discredits the authorities and destabilizes the situation."

"Therefore I think they can only take one decision- annul the results of the election and hold new ones."

More than 800 people have been arrested after protesting the Russian elections, claiming that Vladimir Putin's United Russia 'fixed' the polls.

Among those detained by police was the former deputy prime minister of Russia, Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Vladimir Putin's reign. He was later released after three hours in custody.

Beginning of the end for Putin?

Monday's election saw Vladimir Putin’s ruling party lose almost a quarter of their seats in the state government.

The Election Commission confirmed that United Russia have won the legislative elections but with a loss of 77 seats – taking their share down to 238 of the available 450 seats in the Russian Duma. The shift marks a dramatic decline in support for Prime Minister Putin, who has signalled his intention to replace Dmitry Medvedev as Russian president in March.

The fall is a surprise considering United Russia dominated elections in 2007, taking 64% of the vote. But it also marks the end of Putin’s stranglehold of Russian politics as his party has lost their two-thirds majority – meaning that they can no longer push through laws unchallenged. Which leads to the question, is this the beginning of the end for the politician nicknamed ‘hardman’?

Rise to power

Putin was forced to take this latest setback with optimism but his chagrin was clear to see. “Despite all the difficulties and responsibility placed on the party's shoulders, our voters, our citizens have preserved it as the leading political party,” he said at United Russia’s Moscow headquarters. “This is an optimal result which reflects the real situation in the country. Based on this result we can guarantee stable development of our country.”

Putin’s acceptance that “difficulties” are prevalent within his party are a far cry from the confidence and pomp on which he was elected to power in 2000. His election was simplified by the shock resignation of Boris Yeltsin on New Year’s Eve 1999, who bowed out with prophetic words. “I want to beg forgiveness for your dreams that never came true,” he said. “Also I would like to beg forgiveness not to have justified your hopes.”

With the surprising nature of Yeltsin’s departure, the Russian people were without an established leader for the first time since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Despite popularity for his part in bringing about the end of the USSR, Yeltsin came under fire for his role in the Chechnya conflict and for ongoing economic problems. His last act was to install Vladimir Putin as acting president until the March 2000 elections, which the ‘hardman’ went on to claim with over half the vote.

Early success

Putin’s initial success juxtaposed with Yeltsin’s later failures ensured that Vladimir rose to popularity within Russia. Restoring pride in Moscow was a priority and Putin took steps to reform the Russian government and legal system that had been plagued with stories of corruption. His public perception as a man to be reckoned with also boosted his premiership, as he took a strong grip on public confidence.

Putin swept to a second term on this wave of popularity, taking over 70% of the vote in a landslide 2004 election victory. The triumph was blighted by claims that Putin was involved in the kidnap and disappearance of presidential rival Ivan Rybkin, former chairman of the Russian Duma.

Rybkin went missing for four days in the run-up to the elections and upon his reappearance he refused to return to Russia, eventually backing out of the presidential elections. Despite the mystery that surrounded this scandal, Putin avoided widespread controversy over Rybkin’s abduction and continued his march to a second presidential term.

Waning power

Vladimir Putin extended his power as the Russian premier over the next four years, grooming Dmitry Medvedev as his successor to the throne. Putin’s influence within Moscow dipped as he sought to shift more powers to the Russian prime minister as he was barred from seeking a third consecutive term as president of the Federation.

Putin, barred from standing for a third consecutive term as president, instead became prime minister, with Mendev nominating him as his prime minister in May 2008 – just a day after Putin’s second term as president ended.

Many saw Medvedev as a puppet of Putin, a supposition he has struggled to shake off. Still officially the president, he agreed to step aside for Vladimir in next March’s elections due to “stagnation” in Russian politics. “It will be a pivotal renewal of the government, a government consisting of new people,” he said.

Though this claim seems to make little sense, it is tough to have a comprehensive “renewal” by bringing in a leader for his third term. Medvedev later revealed the true motive behind his decision to step down from presidency. “Prime Minister Putin is now unquestionably the most authoritative politician in our country and his rating is somewhat higher,” he admitted in September.

Though Putin still holds sway within the Russian government, his time away from full leadership has seen his power wane. Monday’s election results pose a huge problem for United Russia, who have seen a huge decline in faith. Still managing close to 70% of the Russian vote during Medvedev’s election, the party has slipped considerably and now faces a revolt from the nation’s left-wing.

Increasing support for the Communist Party not only poses a problem for United Russia but also for Putin, who though likely to return to presidency in March 2012, will doubtless have a much harder time than his previous coronations as he fights to regain the support he once had within Russia.