Vladimir Putin will lead Russia for another six years, after securing an expected victory in the presidential election. With 50% of the vote counted he had received 75% of the vote, the central election commission said. The main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, was barred from the race. Addressing a rally in Moscow after the early results were declared, Mr Putin said voters had "recognised the achievements of the last few years". The scale of victory - which had been widely predicted - appears to be a marked increase in his share of the vote from 2012, when he won 64%. Mr Putin's nearest competitor, Pavel Grudinin, ... (full story)