MOSCOW, March 15 (UPI) -- European election observers said Monday Russia's weekend presidential election did not meet democratic standards, the BBC reported.
Incumbent President Vladimir Putin won more than 70 percent of the votes cast, and vowed to proceed with economic reforms and said he would safeguard democracy.
However, observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe were not satisfied the voting process was fair.
The main concern voiced by chief observer Julian Peel Yates was state controlled media's political reporting.
"Essential elements ... such as vibrant political discourse and meaningful pluralism were lacking," he said at a news conference in Moscow.
Putin's rival candidates had complained about the lack of media access during the campaign, the report said.
None of the other four contenders managed to garner even 5 percent of the vote. The only liberal candidate, economist Irina Khakamada, finished in fourth place with 3.9 percent.
