- MOSCOW: Ex-Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says Russian authorities must annul the parliamentary vote results and hold a new election.
Gorbachev spoke to the Interfax news agency as public indignation was rising over reported election fraud in Sunday’s election.
The pro-Kremlin United Russia party won less than 50 percent of the vote, a steep fall from its earlier majority, according to preliminary results. But opposition parties and international observers said the vote was marred by widespread reports of vote-rigging.
Thousands of Russians rallied this week in Moscow and St. Petersburg, facing off against police and Interior Ministry troops. Hundreds were beaten and detained.