Vladimir Putin appears all but certain to return to the Kremlin in tomorrow’s Russian presidential election, but he will find himself in charge of a country far more willing to challenge him.

Security forces have uncovered a plot to assassinate Russia’s Vladimir Putin and have arrested suspects linked to a Chechen rebel leader known for other terror attacks, Russian state television reported yesterday.

Russian and Ukrainian special services have arrested a group of suspects over an alleged plot to assassinate Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s state television reported today.

Dmitry Medvedev’s victory in the Russian presidential election was greeted cautiously across Europe today, as leaders said they hoped he could mend relations damaged during Vladimir Putin’s presidency.

With incumbent Vladimir Putin assured of a second term, the Russian presidential election on Sunday has been called everything from a one-horse race to the starting gun for the campaign to succeed him in 2008.