Moscow: Final official returns show Dmitry Medvedev has won Russia's presidential election with over 70 per cent of the vote.
Russia's Central Election Commission says Medvedev has won Sunday s election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. Turnout was 69.78 per cent.
Communist Party chief Gennady Zyuganov was shown to be trailing with 17.72 per cent, while ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky won 9.35 per cent and little-known candidate Andrei Bogdanov captured 1.3 per cent.
Medvedev's landslide victory was virtually assured by a blessing from Vladimir Putin, the popular incumbent who said he would retain clout by becoming Medvedev s prime minister.
