Russian voters were expected to endorse Vladimir Putin’s choice of a successor in today’s presidential election, allowing Mr Putin to retain a measure of power in his nation whose wealth and global voice have grown even as democratic freedoms diminished.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s party was on course for a landslide victory tonight as early results showed they had clinched more than 60% of the vote.

A Briton and an American who walked into Russia from Alaska and were sentenced to deportation are awaiting an appeal hearing in their case.

Roman Abramovich, the billionaire owner of Chelsea football club, was sworn in today for a new five-year term as governor of the Russian Far East region of Chukotka.

Russia’s richest man, ex-Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has pleaded not guilty to a raft of charges that could jail him for 10 years, while authorities tightened the grip on the beleaguered oil company’s key production assets.

The head of Russia’s highest audit body cranked up the pressure against oil magnate Roman Abramovich today, saying the billionaire should step down as governor of a remote Arctic region, the Interfax news agency reported.

Billionaire Chelsea boss Roman Abramovich may be the next target of Kremlin prosecutors after the remote region he runs was declared bankrupt by Russia’s highest audit body.

The Russian region governed by Chelsea football club’s billionaire boss Roman Abramovich is bankrupt, a state auditor said today.

Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea soccer club, will face checks by Russia’s highest auditing body starting next month, its chief said in Moscow today.

IT MAY be a difficult name to chant, but if Roman Abramovich can divert just a fraction of his wealth into the running of Chelsea football club he may well become the fans’ new favourite.