Russia’s Putin sets two records in landslide election victoryMarch 19, 2018 - 10:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian president Vladimir Putin won re-election after securing some 76.65% of votes with more than 90% counted on Sunday, March 18. 55 million Russian citizens voted for Putin in a widely expected outcome, with the overall turnout standing at 67%. Putin has thus set two records in the history of Russian elections after winning the vote by the largest margin of victory with the biggest number of ballots cast in his favor. None of the seven candidates who ran against him posed a threat, while opposition leader Alexei Navalny was barred from running. After the majority of the ballots were counted, Putin thanked voters for their support at a victory rally and said Russia had a great future ahead of it provided its people stayed united. His nearest challenger, Communist Party candidate Pavel Grudinin, got just 11.82%, while nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky got 5.68% . Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |