In pictures: Russia votes

5 March 2012 Last updated at 08:15

In pictures: Russia votes

Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has won the country's presidential elections, returning him to the top job after a four-years.

Mr Putin's supporters celebrated on Sunday night after preliminary results were announced. With more than 99% of the ballots counted, Mr Putin secured nearly 64% of the vote, election officials say.

Tens of thousands gathered for the post-election rally, as celebrities and pop stars took the stage.

Mr Putin himself appeared with tears in his eyes and said: "We have won in an open and honest battle." He said the vote had been a "very important test... for Russia's political maturity and independence".

Mr Putin will replace Dmitry Medvedev (L), who has been president since he left the post in 2008.

The vote was at first expected to see an easy win for Mr Putin, who has already served two terms as president. But allegations of widespread fraud in last December's parliamentary elections set off an unprecedented wave of protests against him, and new scrutiny.

Thousands of volunteers were recruited as election monitors, and webcams showed live footage of many polling stations. Opposition groups said that despite this, outside the capital vote-rigging was still taking place.

There was tight security for the elections, with an extra 6,000 police brought from outside Moscow into the city centre.

Russian servicemen were among the first to vote in an election that crossed several time zones.

Across Russia's vast territory, officials took ballot boxes to those unable to come out and vote.

Some voters were able to cast their ballots in the comfort of their cars.

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In Pictures

In pictures: Russia votes

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