Moscow (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - Russia`s presidential candidate Vladimir Putin won 64.39 percent of votes after half of the votes were counted, according to the Russian Central Elections Commission Monday.

The latest official counts posted on the CEC website show Putin is well on the way to victory, as none of the other four candidates have garnered so far more than 20 percent of votes.

The Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov pocketed 17.14 percent of votes, while independent candidate Mikhail Prokhorov gained 6.97 percent.

About 6.70 percent of votes went to Liberal Democratic leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and 3.73 percent for A Just Russia leader Sergei Mironov.

Earlier, the exit poll results showed that Putin would win 58.3 percent of votes in the Sunday election.

Putin announced on Sunday he had won the election at the Manezh Square, where around 100,000 supporters were celebrating the victory. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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