Well, I didn't vote since I knew that Mr Medvedev would win anyway, so why should I have spent my time on this useless diversion?..

On the other hand, during this election company I didn't notice any strong forcing to vote. I began thinking that something weird was taking place since they did't make so much agitation as before. Or maybe I didn't notice that all for I hardly watch the TV these days.

In fact nearly none in the country (who cares for its future) wants to change the course of things. The chosen way really seems to be the best, though there are a lot of problems, we still go forward (not backwards).

Maybe there will be something in future... but today's stability is much better than  throwing the country back to chaos. (This is perhaps what some western media are looking forward to) I think that the results will reflect the real state of things and preferences among the people.

That's why there was no need  to force anyone to vote. Though we were strongly requested to come and give our votes to the candidate we think best.

Medvedev was one of the candidates long ago. So we had a good deal of time to see what he looks like. And maybe I really thought him better than the other candidates. Perhaps he is not as good as Putin, still he is not as bad as Zyuganov or Zhirinovsky. (To say nothing of Bogdanov). 

He is quite reliable and I don't think there will be many changes (if any) in the country and its policy.   

Ruslana

“(It's quite amusing sometimes to know how foreign mass media interpret information.)

”

This was actually the reason why I started this thread-to get YOUR point of view.

Is it good for democracy that people resign (or refrain) from using their political right to vote as the only real expression of their sovereign power in state? Actually, I think that European media show this image because there is a strong feeling here that Russians are moving somewhere else from the political system which is established in Europe (maybe they are only moving to their natural political system after years of chaos).

Maybe we Europeans are amusing for you, Russians, as well - we need a strong competition in political field to create checks and balances between the powers who want to control the state. We have problem to believe that a single strong person can be the best one to rule the country. (okey, maybe it was more my attitude than attitude of all Europeans) Do you still feel democratic if you have just one choice to choose?

I said I would be afraid if I would gain a feeling that there is no reason to vote because after all, one person will surely win. For me, it would seem that my vote is useless and I have lost my part of sovereignty-that I don't create the state anymore and the state is not dependant on my vote anymore

Once again, is it good for ME or YOU not to vote?