05/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - In a declaration published on Tuesday 4 December, the EU notes the results of the elections to the state Duma, held on 2 December in Russia, in which Vladimir Putin's “United Russia” party won with 315 of the 450 seats. The EU welcomes the fact that elections took place in an “orderly and organised fashion” but regrets the “many reports and allegations of media restrictions as well as harassment of opposition parties and NGOs in the run up to the elections and on election day”. It also deplores the fact that “procedures during the electoral campaign did not meet international standards and commitments voluntarily assumed by Moscow”. The EU hopes investigations will clarify the accuracy of the allegations of fraud denounced by the Russian opposition. (A.B.)