Vladimir Putin's party is set to retain majority in Russia's parliamentary elections, poll suggests

The main party backing Vladimir Putin is well ahead in parliamentary elections, early exit polls indicate today amid a torrent of allegations about vote-rigging.

Polls from the Russian Far East suggested pro-Kremlin United Russia had between 40 and 45 per cent of the vote with the Communists in second place on around 18 per cent.

The ultranationalist Liberal Democrats were nudging ten percent, while other parties struggled in single figures.

Another exit poll based on voting in Moscow and St Petersburg suggested United Russia had 44 per cent with the opposition Communists on 21 per cent.

But…