Putin wins presidential election marred by reports of violations

• Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has won Russia's presidential election
• Mr. Putin has got 62 per cent of the 85 per cent votes counted, the Central Election Commission said. Exit polls conducted by two leading pollsters gave Mr. Putin 58-59 per cent. Mr. Putin needed to win more than 50 per cent to avoid a runoff. 
• The election was marred by reports of large-scale violations. Opposition activists and observers have reported thousands of violations that involved multiple voting, known here as “carousels” — voting without proper documents and non-admission of monitors to polling stations.
• For Mr. Putin, 59, it will be his third term as President. He stepped down four years ago because of a Constitutional limit, promoting his protégé Dmitry Medvedev to succeed him. 
• Mr. Putin has promised to appoint Mr. Medvedev as Prime Minister after the election.