Flamboyant nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky, whose party came a strong third in Russia’s parliamentary elections, announced today that he will run for president in March.

Allies of President Vladimir Putin won a sweeping victory in Russia’s elections today but European human rights officials condemned the poll as having fallen short of international legal requirements and representing a retreat from democratic reforms.

The court jester of Russian politics, Vladimir Zhirinovksy, led his nationalist party to a surprisingly strong comeback in the parliamentary elections with his unique mix of bad-boy behaviour, populist politicking – and support for the Kremlin.

The biggest pro-Kremlin party pulled far ahead of its rivals in Russia’s parliamentary elections today, with partial preliminary results suggesting President Vladimir Putin can tighten his grip over the Duma ahead of his own likely re-election bid.