Putin choice set to be new Russian president

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.

Dmitry Medvedev, a 42-year-old former lawyer and loyal Kremlin aide, is expected to take over from Mr Putin, whose eight years as president have left a deep imprint on the world’s largest country. Mr Medvedev has said he would offer Mr Putin the prime minister’s post.