Russian President Vladimir Putin today praised a poll that placed his allies in firm control of parliament as a boost to democracy but Washington and Europe's top democracy watchdog voiced concern.
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) inEurope said the fourth parliamentary election since the SovietUnion's collapse, which crushed Mr Putin's Communist and liberalopponents, was a regression for Russian democracy. The UnitedStates said it shared the concern.
The outcome, with the pro-Kremlin United Russia partywinning nearly half the State Duma's seats, made the president'sre-election for a second term next March a near certainty. Itcould also give him enough votes to change the constitution.
Mr Putin's backers say the majority will hand him more powersto push economic reform and fight corruption. Critics feardemocracy is in danger after a new nationalist party surged intothe lower house and two liberal parties were all but wiped out.
"The election is another step in strengthening democracy inthe Russian Federation," Mr Putin told senior officials.
But the rights and democracy watchdog OSCE said UnitedRussia had inordinate access to state resources.
"In this election the enormous advantage of incumbency andaccess to state equipment, resources and buildings led to theelection result being overwhelmingly distorted," said Mr BruceGeorge, president of the OSCE's parliamentary assembly.
"It is even more regrettable that the main impression of theoverall electoral process is that it was one of regression inthe democratisation process of this country."
In Washington, White House spokesman Mr Scott McClellan said:"We share those concerns." Of particular concern, he said, werethe "media environment and the use of government resources".