Russian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Vladimir Putin Friday ruled out the possibility of holding early parliamentary elections in the country.
Asked if he had plans to disband the Russian parliament’s lower house — the State Duma — and hold early polls if he won the March 4 elections, Putin said: “no”.
Mass street protests against the outcome of December 2011 parliamentary polls swept across Russia late last year.
Citing what the protesters called “mass vote fraud” in favour of Putin’s United Russia party, they have demanded the State Duma be disbanded and early polls held.
–IANS/RIA Novosti