Russia's Hard Man Is Back In Power
22.05.12
He might have had tears in his eyes as he appeared before the crowds after his election, but the opposition should not think that Vladimir Putin has gone soft.
Mr Putin is back in charge as president rather than prime minster and a lot has changed since he was last in residence at the Kremlin.
He wanted this election not just to return him to the presidency but to install him again as "father of the nation".
But amid accusations from monitors of the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) of widespread election violations, this has not been the clean victory the leader would have liked.
Moreover, in previous elections opponents would have rolled over during the campaign - accepting his victory generously as an almost foregone conclusion.
Instead, billionaire businessman Mikhail Prokhorov has declared he was troubled by allegations of voting violations and would be demanding an official investigation.
And veteran Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov - usually a quiet figure - went as far as to call Mr Putin "the main threat to Russia".
Source: KL.FM 96.7