Vladimir Zhirinovsky

Vladimir Zhirinovsky died. The far-right politician passed away at the age of 75 after a long illness. He had been in a coma in recent weeks.

With 76 percent of the protocols processed, the ruling United Russia party received 49.16 percent of the vote in the parliamentary elections, and can count on 196 seats for which a majority vote is cast, the Central Election Commission said, citing the business information platform RBC.

Opposition journalist Ksenia Sobchak is running for president of Russia in the 2018 elections.

"I have decided to run for president at the age of 36. I want to return the opportunity to vote against all," says Sobchak's address on a site specially created for the campaign.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's United Russia party has won by a landslide the elections held in the country on Sunday, but has lost some support, exit polls have suggested.

Early poll results have shown the same four parties that made up the current Russian legislation in 2011 will have MPs in the 450-seat Parliament, daily Kommersant reports.

Sergei Gavrilov, an MP from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) urged Turkey to return the Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Orthodox Christian Church. He said that in this way Ankara would demonstrate that good will is above politics. “We expect the Turkish side to show a goodwill gesture and return Hagia Sophia Cathedral to the Christian Church,” he said.

McDonald's has suspended work at its restaurants in Crimea for "manufacturing reasons", the U.S. fast food chain said on Friday. 

This is the second international company to cease operations this week on the peninsula annexed by Russia.

Russia's federalisation plan for Ukraine sparks criticism

The West supports the territorial integrity of Ukraine and calls for united actions against Russian interference.

Russian soldiers storm a Ukrainian military air base in Belbek, Crimea, on March 22nd. [AFP]