Russian voter turnout tops 50% threshold

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.

Assured of winning a second term, incumbent Vladimir Putin was looking for a strong turnout to give him a powerful new four-year mandate. After casting his ballot, he made a last-minute appeal to voters amid Kremlin fears that the lack of real competition would keep people at home.