A report by a monitoring group of protesters claims widespread fraud added at least 10% to Putin's presidential count.
The group...called The League of Voters...refused to accept the election results.
But...even with bloated totals...Putin still would have won over 50%...and avoided a 2nd round vote.
Putin admitted there were some irregularities..."maybe 1%"...but dismissed a 10% vote difference.
He also said a position might be offered to billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov...who came in 3rd...with 8% of the vote.
Prokhorov was seen by critics as a pseudo reformer and token candidate...included to drain off protest votes.
The League's report listed many alleged examples of blatant fraud.
In one St. Petersburg voting station #9022...Putin's vote total increased...from 642 to 972... while Prokhorov's vote plunged...from 306 to 36!