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Zhirinovsky Says Russian Election Results Rigged


Russian ultranationalist lawmaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky claims regional elections in five Russian constituencies, including Moscow, were rigged.

Zhirinovsky's September 15 statement came amid reports that the ruling United Russia party is winning more than 70 percent of the votes in parliamentary elections in Crimea, which Russia controversially annexed from Ukraine in March.

Zhirinovsky's Liberal Democratic Party of Russia is running second in Crimea with just over 8 percent of the vote.

Russia's Communist Party also refused to recognize the election results in Kirov Oblast.

United Russia candidates are reportedly winning the overhwhelming majority of contests held in the 84 Russian regions where general and local elections were held on September 14.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the elections in Crimea "prove that powers in Russia are based on legal procedures."

Ukraine has called the elections in Crimea "illegal."

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax

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