Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday there might have been violations in Sunday’s vote but they did not go beyond hundredths of a percentage point.
“Violations are possible but they can only affect hundredths of a percentage point. Well, a percentage point [at the most],” he said. “Not more than that.”
Asked to comment on the Voters’ League statement that it refuses to recognize the election results, Putin said:
“The Voters' League refused to recognize them even before there were any results. So, what’s new about that?”
The League claimed Putin had garnered just 53 percent of the vote.
The Central Electoral Commission said Putin has received 63.6 percent of the vote in the election.
Responding to a reporter’s remark whether his result was not an indication of massive ballot stuffing, in particular multiple voting, Putin said: "You can’t bus in 45 million people. There are things you can’t argue about.”
In this practice, known as "carousel," voters are bused around to various polling stations to repeatedly vote for Putin.
