Russian Central Election Commission Chairman Vladimir Churov, based on preliminary results of the elections, has declared Vladimir Putin as Russian president-elect in the first round, RIA Novosti reported.
According to the CEC, after handling 99.3 percent of the protocols, Putin secures 63.75 percent of the votes, Gennady Zyuganov - 17.19 percent, Mikhail Prokhorov - 7.82 percent. Vladimir Zhirinovsky secures 6.23 percent and Sergei Mironov - 3.85 percent.
"According to preliminary data, Vladimir Putin has been elected as the Russian President," Churov said at a press conference on Monday.
After the CEC chairman made the statement, the election commission members started applauding, while observers and journalists in the Central Election Commission's press center also supported them.