election campaign based on principle of justice and honesty and very critical of the united russia so these parties are not united enough to to to be united opposition to united russia ok now about the international observers the. complained about i quote the lack of a level playing field the lack of independence of the election administration the partially the partiality of most media and interference of state authorities at different levels how fair is that assessment how well would you read first i would say it's a standard assessment more or less the same for any russian election except one actually in one thousand nine hundred six then boris yeltsin defeated you know he's a goner who was really not the most welcome candidate from the point of view of everyone including the western observers and of course the election which was not fair. actually. it's i wouldn't dare to say that the whole electoral process in russia is to real at the same time i wouldn't say it is absolutely corrupt and that it does not reflect the structure of electoral preferences actually the result the actual result of the

this is the third election for for the united russia party their first one was in the year just. thousand and three and that's when the united russia got thirty seven percent of the vote then came the election of the triumph that was before the economic crisis when the economy was on the rise when the mood of the nation was high sixty five six zero was well sixty four percent of the vote which gave constitutional majority but that was extraordinary. six duma's in post communist russian history and only one where a party had a constitutional majority so that is not there anymore on the other hand look what happens in other countries. united russia was in power during the terms of crisis the russian economy was going down when mood of the nation changed drastically. and many ruling party is in europe lost the elections and lost their power so for the united russia to get a little bit less than half of the vote and that means a little bit more than half of the seats in the duma that means keeping its absolute majority of the seats is quite a good result. there is no need for russia o

russia action two thousand and eleven on party. officials here all talking about the stability that so the united russia party has brought the country in recent years as a major third point for them so they are hoping that this will reward them in the vote on sunday today. all right daniel bushnell live from united russia headquarters exit polls have them again at forty eight percent the communist party coming in second so far exit polls at nineteen percent let's check in at communist party headquarters artie's arena go there for us what are people talking about there what's the mood one thousand percent so far. they are pretty happy with that number they were hoping for twenty or higher and by the looks of it they're actually going to get it i have to say the atmosphere here at the at the headquarters is rather relaxed nobody is running around nobody is in a hurry they are happy with the results that they are getting and you have to remember that this has been a party which has surprisingly or not so surprising we've been showing rather consistent positive results so a during the last elections which happened four years ago so peop

do well as if you see the united russia party is getting very close. to fifty percent and it is getting very close to get a majority but still didn't get it and thus far is the only way the united russia party anyway will be allowed to maintain majority because all of the seats in the palm. because the votes of harvest that did not pass seven. would be divided among those who do that's. what we understand words are still being counted by the observers saying about how the election went well. parliamentary election has been morning told by seven hundred international independent of theories and more than five hundred thousand russian observer and we have been able to speak to many of them and they say that they actually happy with how the election went and they say that the election in these were curious parent and well so far we are happy with the heartland. all right our season or international reporting live from the central election committee maria thank you very much indeed and we'll talk to you later. so far prettier results show that the voting un

worn in two thousand and seven well the united russia party is followed by. of course by the communist party with stable result around twenty percent and it's followed by fair russia and. the liberal democrats will. thirteen and twelve percent correspondent well these two these four parties sorry dede passed the seven percent barrier needed to get into the new duma. the three others did not pass this barrier that means that their votes will eventually be divided between those who deeded between those four leading part is that means that eventually these four parties will anyway get some extra votes and what exactly right now even if the united russia doesn't get the majority of the votes it will the venture only most experts say that the majority of the saints in the parliament and the party obligates free to mention that just did pass the three percent barrier which means it now turns. direct financial support from the federal budget of russia back to euro this national also know there have been hundreds of observers also feedback. a lot of observers and we a

east recently but it's a warning sign to mr putin has got to the government as well as to the united russia party. one thing that united russia got very very much right to do a lot of people steering the country through the global financial crisis over the last couple of days western nations then on the last edition about the opposition groups in russia why did they take that course. i'm sorry kevin i can you repeat the question but it's going to say one thing that united russia did very well was to guide russia through all the financial instability turbulence we've seen around the rest of the world of the last couple of years now the last western nations traditionally back the opposition groups in russia why did the western nations choose that path. well i don't think it's quite accurate to say the western nations of backed opposition groups in russia i think nations including the united states want to see actions in russia and elsewhere undertaken under is fair and free conditions as possible and let the russian people decide about what what what is what is happening and what they want the othe

one right wing party but many of the liberal party is outside of this process and for them i believe the only way to to be competitive and to chase united russia is to get united but this is the case for the next election really just briefly the president talked about possible alliances that we could see what party could you see united russia perhaps forming a coalition even when we get our own simple majority we will not. have to build any formal coalition with anybody. our coalitions in the future will be technical they will be done. keys by keys for their belief we can. reach agreements with different political parties and that will depend on the substance of a certain situation certain peace certain law to be passed by the constitutional majority and they do not exclude any option in the coalition is possible but they do not believe that any political the in the coming of the duma will be the permanent coalition porker for united russia scene because the term chairman of the committee for foreign affairs in the state duma thank you very much for joining us so late so early i should say really on a monday morning here important for russia i

united russia taking the majority of the vote the communists coming in second and third place i fear russia with the liberal democrats for now the rest of the parties that i haven't named there they failed to get the required percent of the vote in order to take a place in the duma united russia currently around forty nine percent of the vote they don't have and cost the whole important fifty percent mark that's a psychological barrier to say that hof of the country is on side with them now even though they haven't passed the us mark due to the seats from the parties that fail to meet the threshold they were distributed between those four parties united russia actually have over fifty percent of the seats what this means is they can pass just about any law which they want to skits to me without having to form a coalition with one of the other parties so they don't need to form a coalition before we're hearing from united russia party leadership is that they are willing to form coalitions during this duma though they've said that it will depend on the individual issue at hand as well as the political party all parties are making accusations of vote

central election committee and continue to update you on the very latest data as it comes through united russia party has so far received just sort of fifty percent like you catherine i was talking about there do you know bush is at the party's headquarters and now joins us live danielle counting still underway but with united russia just short of fifty percent what's the mood among the party members is this been a successful action or are they disappointed. people here are very down popess party leaders have just come out to face the press and there was none of the good humor that we saw with the overwhelming victory four years ago they all still hoping to get up to the fifty percent barrier they're saying that's a psychological test that they should pause and it really wants to get that fifty percent if the president of russia and also the man who is first on the united russia election list said that the economic situation the world crisis is partly to blame for the poor showing people aren't happy with the way their lives are going but he did warn that russia does need a strong ruling party in par

russia. drake agree reporting there from central moscow. is work university political science professor gary hart told us earlier that the loss of votes by the ruling party united russia have increased western acceptance of the elections democratic and that elected to do elections. to reshape some of the. elections is an electoral process is simply manipulate it completely and so will the ruling party has lost considerable today does she looks great then it has been expected right western powers sort of image the whole building of course is very important to have an influence international relations and. russia. and dr patrick fuller of capital science connections who has extensive a volved and international business and technology ventures in russia says that whatever changes may result from a new parliament it's vital that russia's drive towards modernization stays on quarles. modernization is really key for the russian economy isn't it as we go forward over the next ten or fifteen years as oil and gas revenues decline you have to ask yourself what what is going to move in to plug the gap so building an economy that's able to capitalize on the intellectual st

russia has thirty eight. look at those parties in detail now the ruling united russia party has a constitutional majority in the current parliament and is led by prime minister vladimir putin and with the upcoming election of president dmitry medvedev will be at the top of the party's list of candidates for the party's representation in the duma is not only made up of career politicians but celebrities as well such as one of the most decorated gymnasts of two time olympic medalist. former n.h.l. star. as well as the first man to walk in space alexei now the party's platform essentially revolves around modernizing the economy uprooting corruption and add to radicalism however united russia is also often criticized as bureaucratic inefficient and to some extent blamed for political and economic stagnation. of the second in the number of seats is the communist party headed by its own shall and. you got the communists are the biggest opposition force in the country constantly in second place and one of the most prominent deputies in this sector. is a nobel laureate in physics in two thousand and the communist party

we start with a moment of truth now russia's ruling party with always all the various counted in the parliamentary election united russia is to lose the launch majority it held in the previous duma but will still stay the biggest party by holocaust life that asks her for more news in central moscow. votes are still being counted how's the overall balance you can say following. the ninety six percent of the votes have been counted the figures at the moment put united russia or just under fifty percent of the communist party with just under twenty percent fair russia with about thirteen percent and the liberal democratic party is about eleven percent of that. proportional representation in the state duma say the number of seats of the parties will get is directly corresponds to the percentage of the national vote that's why this figure is the same potent and the election committee has actually given early results of what the seats in the dream are could be a poor proportioned like a united russia at the moment voting two hundred thirty eight seats the communist party ninety two fer russia sixty four the liberal dem

united russia taking the majority of the vote the communists coming in second and third place i fear russia with the liberal democrats now the rest of the parties that i haven't named there they failed to get the required percent of the vote in order to take a place in the duma united russia currently around forty nine percent of the vote they don't have and passed the all important fifty percent mark that's a psychological barrier to say that half of the country is on side with them now even though they haven't passed the us mark due to the seats from the parties that failed to meet the threshold they were distributed between those four parties united russia actually have over fifty percent of the seats we're hearing from united russia party leadership is that they are willing to form coalitions jury this duma will all parties are making accusations of vote rigging intellectual fraud in this poll these range from people voting more than once to the use of invisible ink on some ballot papers we've seen protests and rallies on election day around the country know they were in cities like moscow and st petersburg we saw the biggest of these these

russia. jake agrees reporting there from central moscow for us and university political science professor go hard among god you told us earlier that the loss of the party united russia should increase western acceptance of the elections democratic validity the election. to reshape the. elections is an electoral process is simply manipulated. will the ruling party have. to do anyway or does he looks great then it has been expected right western powers so the image. is very. international relations. russia. dr patrick fuller capital science connections who has extensive involvement in international business and technology ventures in russia says it modernization over the next ten or fifteen years will be vital for the country modernization is really key for the russian economy is no as we go forward over the next ten or fifteen years those oil and gas revenues decline you have to ask yourself what what is going to move into to plug the gap so building an economy that's able to capitalize on the intellectual strengths of russia which is where i see the important changes taking place is really key and my questions are really about things like the sculpture innova

data as we get it throughout the night let's cross lines artie's daniel bushell he's at the united russia party headquarters of course they are leading many wondering now daniel if united russia will take half of the vote fifty percent there sara appears to have fallen significantly what's the mood among party members where you are. just disappointed in this sense of disappointment here you know it's a gross head just because the vote is not just severely down. on four years ago it's also down almost expectations were for this vote this time around the vote does send the message loud and clear that voters the reforms that have been promised about both me to meet that if i'm glad to make putin and they want them as quickly as possible both leaders here have spoken off to the voting ended commitment that if claimed the economy he said the economy situation throughout the world is difficult and he said that was the key reason why their vote is down but he warns the russia does need a strong united grocers' does need a strong ruling party in government in order to be able to function effectively le

and so far preliminary results show that the ruling united russia party leading the ballot with fifty percent and what appears to be a significant drop in popularity and short of a parliamentary majority and our correspondent daniel bushell is at the party's key h. for us. but you know to roger has got over fifty percent of the vote but it's still not the two thirds majority required to get laws through russia's parliament on its own so people here party officials are disappointed that down not just because the vote is much lower than they saw in the elections four years ago but also because it's lower than many of the predictions for this election and nevertheless this surprise is seen as another confirmation that the elections have been transparent and fair. has spoken of the voting ended here muted the party will have to govern in coalition he said that the economic crisis the world economic situation has made some people's lives difficult more difficult and that has reflected itself in some of the anger that we've seen coming into the polls have said that he warned russia does not

time our top stories tonight vote counting is almost over in russia's parliamentary election united russia party is in the lead winning the majority of seats in the lower house but still losing a big share of its previous popular support because the second in the race with russia the liberal democrats also making it to parliament. out of ties with qatar after the russian ambassador to the country's assaulted by airport security the claims against the link to moscow's position on syria. how does global players make to decide the future of afghanistan and pakistan whose role is key to stability in the region point. its latest sign of islamabad relations with washington taking a turn for the worse off in a recent deadly every day on the pakistani border post. just twenty seconds away heated debate over the outcome of russia's parliamentary election and cross talk here on r.t. . well. science technology innovation all the latest developments from around russia we've got the future covered. and. the only welcome to cross talk computable about continuity and change united russia's long dominance over

with one of the other parties so they don't need to form a coalition before we're hearing from united russia party leadership is that they are willing to form coalitions during this duma they've said that it will depend on the individual issue at hand as well as the political party but they're looking to create more of a discourse and get more discussion on the go in the duma and more work more work being done between the parties to try and push through issues on policy. be to the serb been reports of violations said during the vote what more do we know about this. will all parties are making accusations of vote rigging intellectual fraud in this poll these range from people voting more than once to the use of invisible ink on some ballot papers and what we're hearing from international observers is that i think it pardon me what we have seen as well as we've seen protests and rallies on election day around the country though they were in cities like moscow and st petersburg we saw the biggest of these these rallies were suddenly in me were warned to take you. a political party or another others n

didn't want to vote for united russia they were angry with united russia but not necessarily about what it believes ok because i've always said that united russia is a big tent party it's very inclusive almost so inclusive that it is just so it doesn't have a lot of substance ok and that's what a lot of people have very disparaging words about the party because of that do you think that this vote was just to kind of slap them on the wrist because they are very distant from people ok they don't have a human touch and as much as it is i was an anti-communist during the cold war the communist as john laughlin has pointed out here really are on the ground so you think it's just more you know punishing their their sense of the real sense of distance they have with the electorate you know be there i also have lots of friends who voted in protest for communists or for just russia so the situation was very common especially in large cities like moscow assented there's a book you could you know where it's and so on the problem with a not that russia in my opinion is that it's not so much concrete so it lacks action maybe it's just fails to combat the problems that people a

people fled the center of moscow again but this time it's the supporters of the victorious united russia party and its mass opposition rally staged amid claims the results of the parliamentary vote. for. greece's second a rescue package amid skepticism over the official called the emergency measure against the backdrop of widening cracks. and occupy protesters take their rallies to a new level as they aim to shut down america's west coast ports that's is the first arrest take place in new york where corporate demonstrations also got the case this monday. international news and comment live from moscow twenty four hours a day this is r.t. candidates have been throwing their hats into the ring ahead of russia's upcoming presidential runoff and one of the world's richest men russian businessman has formally announced he's running in the election shadow for next march. has more on the man. is number three on russia's rich list and get kind of a jack of all trades not only does he have a fortune of estimated eighteen billion dollars he's also have a das good old player in fact he owns the new jerse

protesters have gathered in moscow lashing out against prime minister vladimir putin and his real united russia party the only problem is that this video is not from russia fox news channel aired a video of fires and chaos in athens convincing viewers that this mayhem is playing out in moscow the fair and balanced network paid no mind to the greek lettering in the background in case you're wondering it says greek national bank what matters is that this is what moscow protests have looked like it's not surprising whatsoever that at the moment that there would be any kind of protest no matter how small it be in russia against the russian government that it would be greatly exaggerated in media and used by the u.s. government as well as a way to try to somehow push for a change in russia that would be more favorable to u.s. interests journalist and author eva golinger believes mass media is washington's most valuable weapon in encouraging revolt elsewhere under the mantle of spreading democracy such as the so-called orange revolution in ukraine. or the rules revolution in georgia. perception is created

we've seen a lot of public support playing out in the fading biggest prize you heard to say the united russia party has lost almost fifty percent how is that playing out to the leadership. well it means the worst the for united russia were able to impose their will on the legislators to very easily apostates lose three that they wanted to now as any changes to the constitution they going to have to get the support of these opposition parties and it's going to look like they'll be needing to make coalition agreements with those parties as time goes on as the president medvedev has acknowledged. this policy has assume say well the policy represents almost fifty percent of the population and this is the result of the time expressing process but taken into account on the flanks make amends they have to form coalitions with other parties of the various issues and this is one power limits and democracy is all about and the leaders of other parties said that they are ready for that which in stool. now there were three other parties that failed to make that seven percent this year in the elections had the

believes the reflections in russia are neither free nor fair again you have to remember that united russia party has come out a winner in those elections with just under fifty percent of votes hillary clinton's remarks were not met kindly neither by a russia's foreign ministry nor by prime minister wasn't it was it was essentially accused washington of meddling in russia's politics and sponsoring those who are willing to so discontent in the wake of the elections also an interesting fact for you there one of russia's new source. has obtained information which they have said do reckless shows the involvement of united states state department in the election process in those documents you could basically see the exchange of emails between the russian non-governmental organization which was monitoring the elections and the us state department and they were discussing the tactics and the financing of the observers during the elections so it turns out it looks like some of those who were monitoring the elections and insisting on their independence were in fact being paid by the u.s. state department.

but so what does the new do makeup mean for the united russia party that. when we saw before united russia having that majority they were able to input. so will the legislature pretty easily i says you got to have an impact no they don't have the majority in terms of changing the cause of teaching they'll need to get the support of the opposition party as it's already told as has been acknowledged by president and the debate if the coalition with those parties will need to be pulled together some of those decisions made. by the party has to form fairly well the party represents almost fifty percent of the population and this is the result of the democratic process but taking into account the complex making the parliament have to form coalitions with other parties over various issues and this is one power limits and democracy is only found in the leaders of other parties so that they're ready for that but. the other three other parties that didn't make that seven percent threshold in this election had one of those parties go five percent of the vote they woul

start with a moment of truth for russia's ruling party with almost all the very now counted in the parliamentary election united russia is to lose the large majority it held in the previous steamer but will still stay the biggest party by follow circles live out off the sarah ferguson central midfield more analysis and over syria the official results are still do you good one of the latest standing. at the moment is the figures stand united russia is good at just under fifty percent of the votes of the communist party just under twenty percent that rush's got around thirteen percent of the liberal democratic party around eleven percent now the election commission actually come up with the early results as to how the ok out in terms of states in the duma right now united russia would hold two hundred thirty eight feet the communist party would hold ninety two seats parachute sixty four seats and the liberal democratic party fifty sixty feet can see that the united russia they it's in the lead has lost that a vote parliamentary majority that it enjoyed you compare the figures to four years ago that united russia

moscow these were the memories so the united russia party various organizations the youth groups that supports united russia and its leadership prime minister vladimir putin and president. this really comes after a series of other demonstrations in the center of moscow following the monthly elections that took place on the fourth of december the results sport to france the that has been going on for several days now there have been allegations of a lot wrong and violations people have been coming to the streets both in protest and in support of the results the biggest protest so far that you placed on saturday at around twenty five thousand people and that's the number given by the inter ministry gathered in one of the moscow central square steve was their frustration their number one demand was that the recount of those basically people once the new parliamentary elections to take place in russia these protests was the biggest gathering of russians so in the last two decades the lobby thing done quite peacefully without any incidents in reaction to the problems as the president. post

yes on the moment of truth for russia's ruling party with almost all the votes counted in the parliamentary election a united russia is to lose the large majority it held in the previous two but it will still stay the biggest party by far well for that cross live now to r.t. sara firth who's in central moscow with more mr so are still being counted but what's the latest information you have. ninety six percent of the vase now being counted we have an announcement from the election committee that if given the early results of the seats in the demus and this is what they need to look like united russia holding two hundred thirty eight states the communist party ninety two states fair russia sixty four seats and the liberal democratic party fifty six theses of the early results of the davis states from the russian election committee and now of course the seats in the duma work on proportional representation say there is full parties that passed the seven percent threshold needed to get the seats in the duma then the seat in the duma correspond directly to the national percentage of the vote say at the moment th

putin visited his party's campaign headquarters along with president dmitry medvedev. >> translator: the election results reflect russia's status quo. >> translator: united russia needs to cooperate with other parties on complicated issues. >> united russia held a two-thirds majority of the 450 seats in the lower house before the election. this allowed it to change the constitution unchallenged. the results are widely seen as a precursor to the presidential election scheduled for next march. voters took their dissatisfaction to the streets. russian security forces arrested at least 170 opposition protesters. police arrested demonstrators in st. petersburg and in moscow. police had warned protesters about holding unsanctioned rallies. police moved in just as opposition supporters were about to start demonstrating. the protesters held placards criticizing the election as a farce. they want prime minister putin out. some opposition forces claim the election results are being manipulated. they say the ruling party's actual share should be much lower. several russian media outlets say their websites were shut down by signer attacks as russians cast their ball

is filled with students only slightly redundancy is. >> but the difference between united russia and the other parties is very big. if united russia makes a promise, it makes sure to deliver. test that for yourselves. >> many russians see putin's party as representing the interests of a corrupt bureaucracy. united russia hopes that young and fresh faces will help revamp its image. >> do you see a bright future if you got it russia wins the election? -- if you got it russia wednesday election? >> if i did not believe that, i would not be standing for this party. my reputation is very important to me. >> her answer goes down well with the students. but united russia's promises rang hollow with this person. he and his wife see their future in canada. at the computer programmer and psychologist plan to emigrate and study their. they think they will only be about to find a well-paid and secure job with a degree from a western university. they saved long and hard to make the move and will be packing up in the summer. they are not alone. more than one-fifth of the young people in russia are thinking about mo

into law though also they don't have to make those coalitions but we have heard from party leadership of united russia is that they are willing to discuss and negotiate coalitions on a lot of two to issues with various political parties depending on the city. the time issue us hand so we could see potential coalitions and more discussion amongst the parties coming to work together than we have done over the previous duma. there's been reports of violations what more do we know about. well there's been allegations of electoral fraud from all parties including united russia who took the majority now these range from people voting more than once to allegations of invisible ink being used to its own polling stations and we also saw rallies from both sides those that were in favor of one political party or another all those that were opposed not only to the political parties but the elections themselves these rallies taking place in moscow and st petersburg and they resulted in a well several hundred arrests on polling day. now what we are hearing from international observers is that so mr jesting that the

from the parties that failed to meet the threshold they were distributed between those four parties united russia actually have over fifty percent of the seat school we're hearing from united russia party leadership is that they are willing to form coalitions jury this duma will all parties are making accusations of vote rigging and electoral fraud in this poll these range from people voting more than once to the use of invisible ink on some ballot papers we've seen protests and rallies on election day around the country though they were in cities like moscow and st petersburg we saw the biggest of these these rallies were suddenly in me were warm to particular political party or another others not just against political parties but also against the election as a whole know during these rallies in st petersburg and moscow what we we saw well around several several hundred arrests now the international observers who are looking at the election. some have suggested that they were violations when it comes to the fairness of the election other international observers have said that those accusations

united russia will hold about two hundred thirty eight seats not seventy seven less the than they were in the back in two thousand and seven it means they've lost their teeth they called the majority party her united russia saying that they gave to be looking to work much more closely with the opposition parties that are going fast to be making compromises to get more of a decision because the public's the board's i've reflected in the result seen by many as reflecting a wiser political shift amongst the meat of voters here in the country. ok thank you sara for three porting from moscow there thank you. let's get some perspective now from political analyst sometimes on the sort of on off but thank you for joining us here on our t.v. once again the protesters held an unsanctioned gathering what options should the activists be taking to get their point across without breaking the law that well they broke the law they should do it. if they want. to be engaged in some. meetings and. instead of just going out with. fighting with police and the. activists now as we heard the ruling united russia party will now hold on just overhaul of the seats in the state duma how's that going to affect dec

these elections he accused fair russia of being the most corrupt party in the country and also suggested that the finger of blame could be pointed at the media saying that united russia had been shown many more times on television over the last four years than the lib dems he also suggested that the liberal democrats had the youngest base the youngest political base of any party in modern party politics so he's always good for a remark to the journalists pointing the finger of blame at this time right point i figure at fair russia like you said it looks like they are taking some of the votes from the liberal democrats again just preliminary results coming in here all over live from the lib dems headquarters thanks for that. now over a hundred people have been arrested in moscow as political organizations both pro-government and opposition trying to stage rallies on election day or days jacob grief has the latest from central moscow but as you said actually these opposition protests or be somewhat lost on the ground that's right in nature throughout the course of the day there will be more individuals than say parties of movements as such no less the less drugs

well the figures as it stands at the moment have united russia with just under fifty percent of the vote the communist party just under twenty percent but that russia with around thirteen percent in the live go democratic party with about eleven percent of the stadium a proportional representation which means that the seats that the parties get correspond directly to the percentage of the votes is why these figures are so important and now the election committee is actually given early results what would the allocation of seats in the duma could look like at the moment the need to make up could have united russia with two hundred and thirty eight states that the communist party with ninety two seats that russia with sixty four states and the liberal democratic party with fifty six states now there were major the votes and still have to be counted it was a united russia has retained its lead you can see that it lost to save rule a parliamentary majority that it enjoyed the last four years you can pad the biggest back then they had sixty four percent of the vote and that gave them three hundred fifteen fate a