Newly-elected President Vladimir Putin today promised Russians a continuation of the stability and order that helped him win a landslide victory, and pledged to open up the political stage to divergent voices after a campaign criticised as unfair and one-sided.

Brushing off US criticism of a one-sided election campaign, Russian president Vladimir Putin claimed victory early today after voters handed him an expected landslide win for a second four-year term.

Voter turnout in Russia’s presidential election exceeded the 50% threshold needed to make the vote valid, Russian news agencies quoted Central Election Commission chief Alexander Veshnyakov as saying hours before polls closed today.

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.