Wednesday, 28 December 2011Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has dismisses calls for a review of disputed parliamentary election results and played down the impact of the protest movement.
"The elections are over. The parliament has started its work and a speaker has been elected. There can be no talk of any review. There is only one way prescribed by law - an appeal to court," he said, speaking to his supporters in the All Russia People's Front.
His comments follow the latest mass protests on Saturday over the 4 December poll, which his opponents say was rigged.
Official results from the recent parliamentary vote gave Putin's party just under 50% of the vote, down sharply from 64% at the previous election in 2007.
Putin is the front runner in presidential elections due in March.
The demonstrations have been the biggest challenge yet to Putin's authority, and that of President Dmitry Medvedev.
However, Putin dismissed the protest movement.
"The problem is that they have no single program," he said.
"They have many individual programs, but no unified one and no clear way to reach their goals, which are also not clear."
Medvedev is not standing for another term as president and will make way for Mr Putin who previously held the post between 2000 and 2008.
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Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Novinite
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