Putin addresses nation as presidetial elections approach

Russian Prime Minister and presidetial candidate Vladimir Putin has urged Russians to take part in the Sunday vote in a televised address.

Putin said the achievements of the last decade are remarkable. "We've done a lot together. Our achievments are indeed great," Putin said. 

Vladimir Putin was running the country for two presidential terms from 2000 to 2008, serving as Russian prime minister after that. His United Russia party's disputed victory at the December parliamentary polls caused massive protests in many Russian cities, with 100 thousand people gathering in the center of Moscow three times to show their protest against Putin's never-ending rule. 

Putin seems to be supported by a slight majority of voters, but the opposition says any polls are insignificant, as there is almost no independent media in the country.