advertisement

The Latest: Putin addresses supporters outside Kremlin

MOSCOW (AP) - The Latest on Russia's presidential election (all times local):

11:10 p.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has addressed thousands of people who rallied outside the Kremlin to thank them for their support and promised new achievements.

Speaking to a crowd who attended a pop concert near the Kremlin marking his election victory, Putin hailed those who voted for him as a "big national team," adding that "we are bound for success."

He said that the nation needs unity to move forward and urged the audience to "think about the future of our great motherland." He then led the enthusiastic crowd to chant "Russia!"

Results from more than half of precincts showed Putin winning over 75 percent of the vote, with Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin and ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky trailing far behind with about 13 and 6 percent, respectively.

___

9:45 p.m.

Ksenia Sobchak, a liberal challenger in Russia's presidential election who is a distant fourth in the early vote count, says she's satisfied with her campaign.

Sobchak, who won about 1.4 percent of the vote in more than 20 percent of precincts already counted, said in televised remarks that her goal in the race was to spread liberal ideas across the country. An exit poll saw her winning about 2.5 percent of the vote.

Critics described Sobchak as a Kremlin project intended to add a democratic veneer to the election that saw President Vladimir Putin easily win about 73 percent of Sunday's vote, according to an early vote count.

Sobchak, a 36-year-old star TV host who is the daughter of Putin's one-time patron, has denied collusion with the Kremlin.

___

9:10 p.m.

An exit poll and early returns suggest that Vladimir Putin has easily won a fourth term, keeping him as Russia's president for six more years.

The nationwide exit poll conducted by the All-Russia Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) showed that Putin won 73.9 percent of Sunday's presidential vote. The poll covered 161,000 respondents at 1,200 precincts in 68 Russian provinces and had a margin of error of no more than 3.5 percent.

The exit poll findings looked similar to early results from Russia's Far East, where the presidential vote ended eight hours ago. The Central Election Commission said with 21 percent of all precincts counted, Putin was leading the race with 71.9 percent of the vote.

The exit poll showed Communist candidate Pavel Grudinin in second place with 11.2 percent of the vote, while ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky came in third with 6.7 percent.

___

9 p.m.

An exit poll suggests that Vladimir Putin has handily won a fourth term as Russia's president, adding six more years in the Kremlin for the man who has led the world's largest country for all of the 21st century.

The vote Sunday was tainted by widespread reports of ballot-box stuffing and forced voting, but the complaints will likely do little to undermine Putin.

Putin's main challenges in the election were to obtain a huge margin of victory in order to claim an indisputable mandate. The exit poll suggests he got more than 70 percent of the vote.

He faced seven minor candidates on the ballot. Putin's most vehement and visible foe, anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, was rejected as a candidate because he was convicted of fraud in a case widely regarded as politically motivated.

___

8:15 p.m.

Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny has accused presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak of discrediting the opposition by joining the race.

Navalny told Sobchak in a YouTube broadcast that she was a "parody of a liberal candidate" and her involvement in the campaign helped the Kremlin cast the opposition in a negative light. He rejected Sobchak's proposal to join forces.

Sobchak, a 36-year-old star TV anchor who is the daughter of Putin's one-time patron, rejected the accusations, saying that she has used the race to champion the liberal ideas, attract public attention to some of the most acute issues and encourage important regional projects.

Critics have accused Sobchak of helping Putin create a semblance of competition in the vote he is set to easily win. She has denied collusion with the Kremlin.

___

5:35 p.m.

Russia's Central Election Commission says the turnout in the presidential election has exceeded 50 percent.

The commission says 51.9 percent of Russia's nearly 111 million eligible voters have cast ballots as of 5 p.m. Moscow time (1400 GMT).

Election officials say efforts to encourage a higher turnout are in line with the law. Some Russians have reported being pressured by employers to show up and vote.

Election commission chief Ella Pamfilova also says officials around the country are taking quick measures in response to claims of violations.

Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.

___

5:20 p.m.

Russia's Central Election Commission says it is quickly responding to claims of violations in the presidential vote.

Commission chief Ella Pamfilova says "we are immediately reacting to all claims no matter where they come from." She says officials quickly sealed a ballot box in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don where ballot stuffing was reported.

Election officials have responded similarly to allegations of ballot stuffing in the town of Lyubertsy just outside Moscow and the far eastern town of Artyom and have been looking into several other complaints.

Pamfilova's deputy, Nikolai Bulayev, says "we are not hiding ... even the smallest violations."

Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.

___

3:50 p.m.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny says he has boycotted the presidential election and is advising other Russians to do the same.

Navalny has been barred from the presidential campaign because of a criminal conviction widely seen as politically motivated. He has urged his supporters not to vote because of the absence of any real competition in Sunday's election, which President Vladimir Putin is set to win easily.

Navalny says in a video posted on YouTube that "on election day, one should usually want to say 'I voted,' but in fact I'm here to say that I didn't go to vote."

He criticized the seven contenders challenging Putin for failing to protest ballot stuffing and other irregularities that were tainting the election, saying on his blog that "such candidates aren't worthy of your vote."

___

3:30 p.m.

Russian election officials say they are looking into several incidents of ballot stuffing in the presidential vote.

One incident was recorded in the town of Lyubertsy just outside Moscow. Irina Konovalova, the head of the election commission for the Moscow region, says all ballots in the box were declared invalid.

And in the far eastern town of Artyom a man tossed several ballots into the box, according to Tatiana Gladkhikh, the head of the regional election commission. She says the ballot box was sealed and the man was arrested.

Russia's Central Election Commission also said it was looking into claims of ballot stuffing in Siberia's Kemerovo region.

Independent election observers and activists have alleged numerous incidents of ballot stuffing and other irregularities in Sunday's vote, which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win.

___

2:05 p.m.

Russian opposition presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak has cast her ballot and urged Vladimir Putin's critics to vote instead of boycotting.

Sobchak, a 36-year-old former TV star, told reporters in Moscow that the higher the support for Putin in Sunday's vote, "the tougher the system" Russians will face in his new term.

Sobchak argued against the boycott called for by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is barred from running. She said "every extra percentage point" for Putin is a result of those who refuse or don't bother to vote.

Sobchak called on Putin's critics to "come together."

Critics think Sobchak has the tacit support of the Kremlin so that the election looks more democratic, which she denies. She is the only candidate who has openly criticized Putin in the campaign.

Putin is expected to overwhelmingly win another six years in office.

___

12:15 p.m.

Russia's central election commission says its website was the target of an unsuccessful hacking attempt during Sunday's presidential election.

Commission chair Ella Pamfilova told reporters that it was a DDoS, or distributed denial of service, attempt tracked to computers in 15 countries, without naming them. Such attacks are very common.

She said efforts to disrupt the site occurred when voters in Russia's far east were already casting ballots, but they were deterred by Russian authorities.

As U.S. authorities investigate alleged Russian hacking and other interference in President Donald Trump's 2016 election, Russian authorities have claimed that foreign powers are seeking to interfere in Sunday's vote.

President Vladimir Putin is set to win, and is hoping for high turnout despite widespread apathy. Pamfilova said turnout nationwide at 11 a.m. Moscow time (0800 GMT) was 16.9 percent, up from 12.2 percent at the same time in the last election in 2012.

___

11:45 a.m.

Security forces are surrounding Russian facilities in Ukraine amid anger over the Ukrainian government's refusal to allow ordinary Russians to vote for president.

Ukrainian police are guarding the Russian Embassy in Kiev and consular offices in Odessa and other cities.

The Ukrainian government announced that only Russian diplomatic officials would be allowed to cast ballots in Sunday's vote, which Vladimir Putin is set to win.

Millions of ethnic Russians live in Ukraine but the number of registered Russian voters in Ukraine is unclear.

Ukraine is protesting voting in Crimea, annexed by Russia from Ukraine four years ago. Ukraine is also angry over Russian support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, where a deadly conflict continues.

Russian authorities are appealing to the United Nations and Council of Europe to intervene, according to Russian news agencies.

___

10:15 a.m.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cast his ballot in the presidential election, seeking a mandate for a fourth term.

Putin is certain to win in Sunday's election, so voter apathy is widespread. Authorities have spent unprecedented funds to get out the vote to ensure he has a strong mandate for his next six years in office.

Some 145,000 observers are monitoring the voting in the world's largest country, including 1,500 foreigners and representatives from opposition leader Alexei Navalny's political movement.

Navalny himself is barred from running. Putin faces seven challengers but none poses a serious threat.

___

9 a.m.

Election monitors are reporting irregularities at voting stations across Russia in a presidential election whose only open question is how many people cast ballots.

Vladimir Putin is certain to win a fourth term in Sunday's election, so voter apathy is widespread. Authorities have spent unprecedented funds to get out the vote to ensure he has a strong mandate for his next six years in office.

Election monitoring group Golos reported dozens of apparent violations Sunday, from the Russian Far East to Moscow. The problems included multiple ballot boxes placed out of sight of observation cameras, and last-minute voter registration changes likely designed to boost turnout.

Some 145,000 observers are monitoring the voting in the world's largest country, including 1,500 foreigners and representatives from opposition leader Alexei Navalny's political movement.

Navalny himself is barred from running. Putin faces seven challengers but none poses a serious threat.

___

See complete Associated Press coverage of the Russian election: - https://www.apnews.com/tag/RussiaElection

Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak smiles after voting in the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
A woman exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in Moscow, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin) The Associated Press
A group of Russian Cossacks perform at the polling station in the presidential election in Rostov-ojn-Don, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russia's presidential election was tainted Sunday by unprecedented pressure on voters to turn out and incidents of suspected ballot box stuffing, a barely democratic exercise that will grant Vladimir Putin another six years of power. (AP Photo) The Associated Press
Russian soldiers cast their ballots in the presidential election at the polling station in Rostov-ojn-Don, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russia's presidential election was tainted Sunday by unprecedented pressure on voters to turn out and incidents of suspected ballot box stuffing, a barely democratic exercise that will grant Vladimir Putin another six years of power. (AP Photo) The Associated Press
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navaln, left, talks with opposition activist Ilya Yashin, at his Foundation for Fighting Corruption office, in Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
Russian soldiers exit a polling booth as they prepare to cast their ballots in the presidential election in Rostov-ojn-Don, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russia's presidential election was tainted Sunday by unprecedented pressure on voters to turn out and incidents of suspected ballot box stuffing, a barely democratic exercise that will grant Vladimir Putin another six years of power. (AP Photo) The Associated Press
A group of Russian Cossacks exit a polling booth as they prepare to cast their ballots in the presidential election in Rostov-ojn-Don, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russia's presidential election was tainted Sunday by unprecedented pressure on voters to turn out and incidents of suspected ballot box stuffing, a barely democratic exercise that will grant Vladimir Putin another six years of power. (AP Photo) The Associated Press
People look at a poster of candidates inside a polling station during presidential elections in St.Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The Associated Press
A woman examines a poster of candidates as an observer sleeps at a polling station during presidential elections in St.Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The Associated Press
Women examine a poster of candidates inside a polling station during presidential elections in St.Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The Associated Press
Russian military sailors exit a polling booth as they prepare to cast their ballots at a polling station during the Presidential Election in Sevastopol, Crimea, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Vasily Batanov) The Associated Press
Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak smiles as she speaks to the media after voting during the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin) The Associated Press
A woman with a gog exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in Moscow, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin) The Associated Press
Russian Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak casts her ballot for the Russian presidential election, in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin) The Associated Press
Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak votes inside a polling booth in the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak addresses the media after voting in the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
An image made available by Polina Nemirovskaya, a political activist, showing her spoiled ballot paper carrying the words 'I'm sick of Putin. No Way Out – it's turning to dust' at a polling station, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Some Russians were spoiling their ballot papers in protest during voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (Polina Nemirovskaya via AP) The Associated Press
CORRECTS PERSON WITH SOBCHAK - Presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak is led away by her husband Maksim Vitorgan after voting in the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
A woman exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election at the Lenin state farm outside Moscow, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) The Associated Press
Russian servicemen vote in the Russian presidential election in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The Associated Press
Russian servicemen vote in the Russian presidential election in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky) The Associated Press
Police cadets prepare to vote in the Russian presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) The Associated Press
Russian President and Presidential candidate Vladimir Putin waits to get his ballot as he arrives to vote at a polling station during Russia's presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday isn't in doubt. The only real question is whether voters will turn out in big enough numbers to hand him a convincing mandate for his fourth term and many Russian workers are facing intense pressure to do so. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) The Associated Press
Russian military personnel cast their ballots in the presidential election in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, March 18, 2018. Russians are voting in a presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Denis Tyrin) The Associated Press
A woman holds a flag that reads "I love Kamchatka, we are the first!" as she prepares to cast her ballots at a polling station in Yelizovo, about 30 kilometers ( 19 miles) north-east from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, capital of Kamchatka Peninsula region, Russian Far East, Russia, on Sunday, March. 18, 2018. Polls have opened in Russia's Far East regions for the presidential election in which Vladimir Putin is seeking a fourth term in the Kremlin. (AP Photo/Alexander Petpov) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.