The first indication that things were not going to plan for Vladimir Putin came when the official exit polls for city-council elections in Moscow failed to materialise on schedule at 6pm on September 8th. By the early hours, the majority enjoyed by United Russia, the ruling party, had taken a huge dent, a sign of a growing mood of discontent in the capital. Before the election, United Russia had held 40 of the 45 seats in the largely powerless but symbolically significant city council. By the time the final votes were totted up next day, it had seen that total fall by almost half, to 25.
展开▼
