Hello and welcome to newsday. We start with russia, where president putin has hailed his predicted victory in russias president ial election, saying it would allow the country to become stronger. He had been the only serious candidate and now has a 5th term in office, after a landslide 87 of the vote. But there was defiance in the form of large queues at some Polling Stations in russia heeding the call of allies of the late Opposition Leader, Alexei Navalny who urged people to turn out to spoil their ballots or to vote for any other candidate. Mr navalny died suddenly in a penal colony in russia last month. At least 80 protesters were arrested. His widow Yulia Navalnya cast her vote at Russias Embassy in berlin. There were protests held and queues to vote in a number of other countries. In london there was a line a mile long outside the russian embassy. From moscow heres our russia editor steve rosenberg. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding
Also mentioned his late critic, Alexei Navalny, by name. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, ourwilland our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny. Translation you may be surprised, but a few days i before mr navalny died, some colleagues of mine told me there was an idea to exchange him for certain people in prison in the west. You can believe it or not. I said, i agree, even before he had finished talking. But what happened happened. Election results on russian tv, not a hold your breath moment. The winner, by a mile and a half, Vladimir Putin. What an incredible level of support and unity around the figure of putin, he says. And a powerful signal to the west. But in this race, Vladimir Putin was, from the start, un
87 of the vote. But there was defiance in the form of large queues at some Polling Stations in russia heeding the call of allies of the late Opposition Leader, Alexei Navalny, who urged people to turn out to spoil their ballots or to vote for any other candidate. Mr navalny died suddenly in a penal colony in russia last month. At least 80 protesters were arrested. Mr navalny s widow, yulia navalnya, cast her vote at Russias Embassy in berlin. There were also protests held and voting queues in a number of other countries. In london, there was a line a mile long outside the russian embassy. From moscow, heres our russia editor steve rosenberg. For Vladimir Putin, six more years in the kremlin. Russias president is sounding more confident than ever. Translation whoever might want to intimidate us, whoever might want to suppress us, ourwilland our conscience, they have never been able to do it, and never will. Then, mr putins first Public Comments on the death ofjailed Opposition Leader Al