Russia’s ruling party reaffirms control

PRESIDENT Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday a crushing win by Russia’s ruling party in local elections proved its moral and legal right to run the regions, but the opposition and independent observers said the voting was rigged.

Medvedev backed the outcome of Sunday’s polls even though two months ago he had said “new democratic times are beginning” and promised to break the party’s near-monopoly on power.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s United Russia was confirmed as the strongest party in almost every poll.