Russia has new President

Medvedev to Take Russian Presidency
By DOUGLAS BIRCH – 19 hours ago

MOSCOW (AP) — Hours after Russia elected a new president, riot police on Monday detained opposition protesters, pro-government youth rallied outside the U.S. Embassy and Russia reduced gas supplies to Western-looking Ukraine.

The moves may signal that the president-elect, Dmitry Medvedev, intends to continue the course set by Vladimir Putin, who during his presidency reasserted his country’s power abroad while keeping a tight grip on society at home.

Putin asked Medvedev to take charge of meetings of the presidential State Council, fast-tracking a transfer of power to his protege. Putin, set to retain power as Medvedev’s prime minister, also suggested they work together on a Cabinet reshuffle.

Results from 99.45 percent of precincts showed that Medvedev, Russia’s first deputy prime minister, received more than 70 percent of Sunday’s vote, the elections commission said Monday.

With nearly all votes counted, hundreds of young people marched through Moscow toward the U.S. Embassy to criticize American policies in Kosovo, Iraq and the Muslim world. After rallying briefly across the street from the embassy and unfurling a banner, police told them to leave and they dispersed.

A short time later, hundreds of riot police detained dozens of youths near a downtown Moscow square where opposition groups had planned an unauthorized protest against the presidential elections.

As some chanted “We Need Another Russia!” police stormed through the crowd, tackling people and dragging them away, their arms wrenched behind their backs or their shirts half-torn off.

The crushing display of police force was sign that authorities would allow no critical mass of dissent or independent opposition as the Kremlin celebrates Medvedev’s victory.

“Fifteen years ago I wouldn’t have thought that my children would be growing up in a country that reminds me so much of the Soviet Union,” said Alexander Ivanov, 48.

In St. Petersburg, Garry Kasparov — the former chess champion who is now an ardent Kremlin foe — and his co-leader in the Other Russia opposition coalition appeared at a simultaneous protest. Unlike in Moscow, the group had permission for the rally in St. Petersburg.

A crowd estimated by police at up to 3,000 gathered in a square and marched toward the heart of the city, shouting “Down with the Police State!” and “This City is Ours!” Police did not intervene.

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