Putin's Victory Comes With Claims Of 'Widespread Violations'

It's no surprise that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won Sunday's election to return to the more powerful post he previously held — president. His victory was widely expected. Putin appears to have gotten about two-thirds of the votes.

Also not surprising: Sunday's results are being followed with reports today that, as The Associated Press says , "the opposition and independent observers insisted the vote had been marred by widespread violations."

The Guardian puts things this way : "International observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said there were 'serious problems' with the election, which meant that the result was 'never in doubt.' "

According to The Financial Times , there are "widespread allegations of vote rigging."

On Morning Edition , NPR's Corey Flintoff said one of the more common complaints was about "carousel voting" — groups of people being driven from one voting place to another, and at each one using absentee ballots to vote. But Putin, Corey reports, said in a fiery speech after results were in that there had been an "open and honest battle" and that foreigners — perhaps referring to the U.S. — had been trying to influence the results.

It also appeared at moments, the FT adds , that Putin teared up during his address on Sunday: