But the Russian president was keeping people guessing about what lay ahead in his fourth term, saying he would wait until after his May 7th inauguration to reveal detailed plans. Kseniya Sobchak, a TV celebrity and liberal opposition activist, was among the straggling runners up collecting 1.68 per cent of the votes. Addressing a rally in Manezh Square near the Moscow Kremlin late on Sunday night, Putin thanked jubilant, flag-waving crowds for support, saying Russia was on the “threshold of big success”. Putin met the seven election candidates he had defeated in the election on Monday to explore possible co-operation in future. However, Putin laughed off questions from reporters on Sunday night that he might run for yet another election at the end of his fourth term.

Source: The Irish Times March 19, 2018 21:00 UTC