Obama raises reports of problems with Russia elections in phone call with Medvedev

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry 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, RIA Novosti reports.
The White House  spokesman Jay Carney says President Barack Obama has raised questions about Russia’s disputed elections in a phone call with President Medvedev.
Obama also welcomed Medvedev’s commitment to investigate the allegations of problems with the elections, and he praised the response of Russian authorities in allowing demonstrations to occur throughout Russia, The Washington Post reports. Obama told Medvedev that it’s an “expression of civil society” that is consistent with Medvedev’s goal of modernizing Russia.
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.