Putin ally Valentina Matviyenko set to be Russia's No 3

[eppur_se_muova]

Source: BBC

A close ally of Russian PM Vladimir Putin has won a reported landslide in a vote that puts her on course to assume one of Russia's most powerful roles.

Valentina Matviyenko has won a seat in Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council.

It is thought Mr Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev want her to be speaker - the third-ranking job in Russia.

But opponents denounced her victory - with more than 95% of the vote - as fraudulent.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14615005