Obama welcomes Medvedev’s intention to investigate election violations

U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed on Friday his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev’s intention to investigate irregularities at the recent parliamentary elections in Russia, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. Obama and Medvedev had a phone conversation on Friday. Obama congratulated the Russian leader on Russia’s admission to the World Trade Organization and voiced the United States’ plan to continue mutually beneficial cooperation. “The two presidents also discussed the recent elections and subsequent demonstrations in Russia. President Obama raised the reports of flaws in the way the elections were conducted, and welcomed President Medvedev’s commitment to investigate these allegations,” Carney said. “President Obama also noted the peaceful demonstrations held throughout Russia, and praised how Russian government authorities enabled the permissive conditions that allowed these demonstrations to occur peacefully and lawfully,” the White House spokesman said. The ruling United Russia party won the December 4 State Duma elections, gaining about 50 percent of the vote. Tens of thousands went to the streets to protest the vote results, which they say were rigged. In the first few days, several hundred people were arrested for failing to obey police orders during protests. On December 10, rallies were held peacefully and few were detained. Independent observers and critics claimed the vote was slanted in favor of United Russia and cited incidents of ballot stuffing, but the authorities said the elections were fair and irregularities were minor, pledging to investigate all violations.