Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated his 62nd birthday in the wilderness of Siberia as supporters from across Russia create tributes in his honour.

Monitored by web cameras and a network of volunteer civilian observers, Russians voted today in presidential elections expected to return Vladimir Putin to the Kremlin.

RUSSIA’S political parties enjoy “free and equal competition” ahead of tomorrow’s parliamentary election, President Dmitry Medvedev insisted, as voters complained of record violations by the Kremlin party and the only independent election monitoring group was prosecuted.

A MOSCOW court sentenced a police precinct chief to life in prison for a drunken shooting spree that killed two people and wounded seven.