  Gorbachev says Russian election should be re-run December 7, 2011 - 16:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called for Russia's elections to be re-run due to fraud on Wednesday, December 7, as the opposition vowed new rallies contesting the results despite further mass arrests, AP reports. Riot police in helmets roughly dragged over 550 protestors into detention vans Tuesday evening in central Moscow but the opposition warned they would stage a major protest organized via the Internet at the weekend. Amid growing international alarm, Gorbachev said the results of Sunday's poll should be invalidated and new elections held due to "numerous falsifications and rigging." "The results do not reflect the will of the people," Gorbachev, president when the Soviet Union collapsed two decades ago, told the Interfax news agency. "Therefore I think they (Russia's leaders) can only take one decision - annul the results of the election and hold new ones." Vladimir Putin's United Russia party won the polls with a sharply reduced majority, amid signs the prime minister's once-invincible popularity might be waning. The opposition says that the ruling party's performance would have been even worse in free polls.   Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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".   Partner news |  Latest news Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants  Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province.Armenia calls for prohibiting threats of attacks on nuclear facilities Armenia has raised the need for a treaty prohibiting attacks on nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes.Armenia says ready to extend nuclear plant’s lifetime by 10 years Armenia has taken necessary measures to extend the lifetime of its nuclear power plant until 2036.Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. |
