Poetin herkozen als president van Rusland (en)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has won - with the predicted landslide - his second term in the Kremlin's office after general elections yesterday (14 March).

According to a statement by the Central Election Commission Mr Putin was re-elected for a second term with 71.2% of votes, backed by nearly 49 million Russian citizens.

Communist Nikolai Kharitonov took second place with just 13.8% of votes, followed by nationalist Sergei Glazyev and liberal Irina Khakamada.

Speaking to journalists today (15 March) Vladimir Putin underlined the necessity for economic reforms, including of the taxation system and reconstruction of monopolies.

"In the external arena we will strive to safeguard the national interests of the Russian federation", the President stated.

His main priority is the "welfare of the Russian nation".

Although Mr Putin declined to hint any changes in the Kremlin's administration he did give some signals by saying that he hopes that Mikhail Fradkov, regarded as an apolitical technocrat, "will be a very successful premier".

Yesterday's poll was the third presidential election since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.