December 15th, 2011
08:24 AM ET

Putin defends election results

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday brushed off widespread criticism that the December 4 parliamentary elections in Russia were falsified.

He said their results "reflect the actual line-up of forces in the country, as well as the fact that the ruling force - the United Russia party - has lost certain positions."

In his traditional year-end question-and-answer program, televised live by state media, he said there is nothing new in the fact that the opposition is not happy with the election outcome.

"That happens every time and will be happening in the future. The opposition always struggles and takes every opportunity to sideline the authorities, to blame them and to highlight their mistakes. It is a totally normal thing."

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Filed under: Russia • World
soundoff (8 Responses)
  1. banasy©

    Gee, Putin, I wonder why it happens every election?

    And thanks for the heads-up that nothing is ever going to change by saying, "“That happens every time and will be happening in the future."

    December 15, 2011 at 10:29 am | Report abuse |
  2. Andreas Moser

    Here is very strong evidence of election fraud in Russia: http://samarcandanalytics.com/?page_id=39

    December 15, 2011 at 1:38 pm | Report abuse |
  3. bobcat ( in a hat )

    I am not a crook.

    December 15, 2011 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse |
  4. teapartyfoodstamps

    Comrads !!! countrymen > welcome to the New Jersey Wealth Tea Party of foodstamps: "now listen to us as we save you from the greater issues" Hi NEWT !!! its all about their "children"... and only them.. no one else.

    December 15, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
  5. banasy©

    @bobcat (in a hat):

    Well, thank goodness!
    I had wondered, but I thought, "Nah. Bobcat (in a hat) is not a crook."
    Thanks for the affirmation.

    And, hi.

    December 15, 2011 at 2:36 pm | Report abuse |
  6. **cosmicvox *

    Hi guys, "I am not a crook" was an infamous remark made by Nixon in defense of himself in the Watergate investigation.
    Putin is a jerk.

    December 15, 2011 at 3:46 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Read this with a bad Russian accent

    You have the millions of fake ballots? Good. Now Putin ballot box.

    December 15, 2011 at 3:55 pm | Report abuse |
  8. banasy©

    @Read this:

    This made me laugh my head off...omg, I'm still lmao...it's so bad, it's great!
    Boris Badenov!

    December 15, 2011 at 8:02 pm | Report abuse |
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