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Moscow police quell opposition protests


Published: March 3, 2008 at 6:17 PM
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MOSCOW, March 3 (UPI) -- Gas supplies to Ukraine were cut and demonstrators in Moscow detained Monday, hours after Dmitry Medvedev was elected Russia's president.

The developments came after Medvedev said he would take charge of Russian foreign policy following his May 7 inauguration, and pledged to stay the course of his predecessor and mentor, President Vladimir Putin, the Financial Times reported.

Observers said the gas cutoff and police action suggest little changed in a post-Putin Russia, the British newspaper said.

Gazprom, the Russian gas monopoly chaired by Medvedev, said it cut deliveries to Ukraine because of unpaid bills. Moscow riot police descended on opposition protesters attempting to conduct an unsanctioned rally.

The United States hopes to continue its "good cooperation" with Russia moving forward, State Department spokesman Dan Casey said, but the elections did little "to change our views or change our concerns" to about democracy in Russia.

Whether Medvedev or Putin -- whom Medvedev said he would name Russia's prime minister -- would actually run the country, Casey said Russia's constitution delineated the posts' responsibility.

"Until proven otherwise, I think we'll expect that those office holders will carry out their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the constitution," he said.

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RUSSIA ELECTIONS
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and his hand-picked successor Dmitry Medvedev greet their supporters standing side-by-side at the stage during a concert to mark presidential election at the Moscow Red Square late Sunday, March 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
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