Russia’s Central Election Commission officially declares Putin as the new President of Russia; US President Obama congratulates Putin on becoming the President; Opposition stages demonstrations in Moscow with a call for ‘Fair Elections’;
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    • Reports noted that Russia’s Central Election Commission has officially declared Putin as the new President of Russia. He received 63.60% votes and will be office for the next 6 years. 1 Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama has congratulated Putin on becoming the President of Russia. They discussed key issues of bilateral cooperation including the START treaty and hoped that the relationship will be strengthened in the future. 2

    However, according to reports, hundreds of people have demonstrated in Moscow’s central Pushkin Square against the perceived lack of fair Presidential elections. 3 Meanwhile, President Putin has promised to continue a dialogue with the opposition and said that he ready to listen to their constructive suggestions. 4

    In another development, according to reports, Russia and the League of Arab States (LAS) have adopted a joint statement on the principles of crisis settlement in Syria. These include cessation of violence, impartial monitoring, no external interference, access to humanitarian aid for civilians and establishment of a political dialogue between the government and the opposition. 5

    Reports noted that Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Monti has expressed the hope for an early meeting with members of Russian political leadership in order to give a new boost to the bilateral partnership. Russia and Italy have a tradition of holding inter-governmental consultations once a year. 6

    Meanwhile, according to reports, President Viktor Yanukovich has said that Ukraine will aim to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. Ukraine has already reduced the gas imports to 27 billion cubic meters from 41 billion cubic meters. 7

    According to reports, outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev has given directions to the Russian Prosecutor-General's Office to analyze in accordance with the legal procedure the lawfulness and the validity of the guilty verdicts of the court against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Lebedev. The case has generated intense media coverage on account of it being seen as an attempt to muzzle opposition in Russia. 8

    In other developments, reports noted that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet his counterparts of the Cooperation Council of Arab Countries of the Persian Gulf in Cairo on March 10, 2012. Developments in Syria will be among a range of issues slated for discussions. 9

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