BEIJING, October 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who heads the ruling United Russian party, dismissed on Wednesday opposition parties' criticism of Sunday's local elections.
Opposition parties have called for a recount of the results of the elections, which were won by a landslide by United Russia, citing numerous violations.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Putin said that any doubts over the legitimacy of the elections should be referred to court, and called the protests a result of the parties' internal disputes.
"If we are speaking about whether the elections were fair or not, then if anyone has doubts, they should go to court and provide proof," Putin said. "Those who lose are always unsatisfied."
United Russia dominated in regional and municipal polls held in 75 Russian regions. In elections to the Moscow City Duma, only two parties - United Russia and the Communists - managed to pass the 7% threshold.
All the opposition parties in the lower chamber of the Russian parliament - the LDPR, the Communists and the A Just Russia party - left the plenary session hall of the State Duma to protest against the election results on Wednesday.
