Russia Criticizes Conduct Of Scotland Referendum

Russia has criticized the conduct of the referendum on Scottish independence, saying it "did not meet international standards."

Russia's state news agency Ria Novosti reports that Igor Borisov, the head of a Russian team of observers, has complained that the votes were counted in rooms which were too big, and that the procedure presented serious shortcomings.

Ria said the four-member team from Moscow's Public Institute of Suffrage monitored the voting in Edinburgh and the surrounding area.

Borisov's comments appeared to be an attempt to mirror persistent western criticism of Russia's own elections.

Analysts say Russia apparently saw a "yes" vote as a way of justifying its own annexation of Crimea in March, after a hastily arranged "referendum" condemned by the west.

Based on reporting by Ria Novosti and guardian.co.uk