Footage of ‘Russian election rigging’ as Vladimir Putin wins biggest ever victory with 75 per cent of votes

n the clips, polling station officials appear to stash voting slips in ballot boxes and block a CCTV camera at one station with balloons, while a Mother Superior appears to check the votes cast by her order.

It comes as Putin comfortably extended his rule of Russia for another six years last night, winning 76.67 per cent of the vote - his highest score ever.

The Central Election Commission said communist Pavel Grudinin came in a distant second with 11.78 per cent.

Third was ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky with 5.66 per cent.

The only candidate to openly criticise Putin during the campaign, liberal TV star Ksenia Sobchak, won just 1.68 per cent.