(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-03 06:55

MOSCOW -- Dmitry Medvedev, first deputy prime minister of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cabinet, has won the country's fifth presidential election by a landslide, official figures showed on Monday.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) and First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (L) meet journalists after speaking on stage during a concert in Moscow March 2, 2008. Medvedev won Sunday's presidential election by a landslide, according to official preliminary results and exit polls. [Agencies]

Medvedev secured his overwhelming victory by gaining 69.61 percent of the vote, with 81 percent of the ballots counted, Central Election Commission (CEC) figures indicated.

A candidate must obtain more than 50 percent of the vote to win an outright victory. Otherwise, a run-off will be held between the top two front runners in the race.

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov ranked second with 18.15 percent of vote; Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky won 9.69 percent of the vote and Democratic Party leader Andrei Bogdanov, 1.27 percent, CEC figures showed.

At a press conference held hours after the polling, Medvedev said he would continue Putin's set policies.

"As for the course that I would like to pursue, it is the path chosen eight years ago," Medvedev said at his election headquarters early Monday.

"I outlined the main positions and priorities of this development in my speeches at various venues and forums. My positions can be characterized differently, but I think it will be a direct continuation of the Putin's policy course," said the youngest ever Russian president-elect.

There were 108.94 million eligible voters and 96,301 polling stations throughout the vast country. Russians residing abroad could vote at 364 polling stations in 142 countries. In some remote areas, voting started about two weeks before polling day.

The CEC will issue the final results on Friday and the new president's inauguration will be held on May 7.

Incumbent President Putin is constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term.