MOSCOW: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe said on Monday there was no real choice in Russia's presidential election the previous day and complained it had been marked by pressure on critical voices.
"Choice without real competition, as we have seen here, is not real choice," the OSCE said in a statement.
The OSCE gave its verdict after President Vladimir Putin won 76.69 percent of vote in a landslide re-election victory, extending his rule over the world's largest country for another six years.
The OSCE said restrictions on fundamental freedoms, as well as on candidate registration, had limited the space for political engagement and resulted in a lack of genuine competition.
"Observers noted a variety of measures, some involving inappropriate pressure on voters, aimed at increasing turnout," it said.
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