Vladimir Putin took the oath of office in a brief but regal Kremlin ceremony today, while on the streets outside thousands of riot police prevented hundreds of demonstrators from protesting his return to the presidency.

Vladimir Putin has been sworn in as Russia’s president for a third term after four years as prime minister.

Two female punk rockers have been ordered to remain in jail awaiting trial for praying to the Virgin Mary to deliver the nation from Vladimir Putin in a surprise performance in the country’s main Orthodox cathedral.

Thousands of protesters flocked to a central Moscow avenue today to demand Vladimir Putin’s resignation and protest electoral fraud.

Thousands of protesters are gathering in central Moscow to protest electoral fraud.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin rolled to victory in Russia’s presidential election today, according to exit polls cited by state television, but the vote was tainted by claims of violations, including “carousel voting” in which voters were bused around to cast several ballots.

Vladimir Putin has won Russia’s presidential election, according to exit polls.

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.

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.

Tens of thousands of protesters have gathered in central Moscow to demonstrate against alleged voting fraud and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, in the largest public show of discontent since the end of the Soviet Union.

Russia’s opposition will test Vladimir Putin’s grip on power today in nationwide protests that promise to be the largest demonstration of public outrage since the dying days of the Soviet Union.

Demonstrators trying to hold a second day of protests against vote fraud in Russia’s parliamentary elections have clashed with police in Moscow.

Thousands of police and troops patrolled central Moscow today in an apparent attempt to deter any further election protests.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said the nation’s political parties enjoyed “free and equal competition” ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election, while voters complain of record violations of election law by the main pro-Kremlin party.

Russians went to the polls in regional elections today which will gauge the ruling United Russia party's ability to garner support at a time of economic hardship and high unemployment.

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.

Dmitry Medvedev won a landslide victory in the election to replace his patron Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president, promising to continue on Mr Putin’s path and to appoint him prime minister.

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.