Local elections were held across Russia on Sunday in what analysts say are a litmus test of new political freedoms promised by Dmitry Medvedev, president, as well as a barometer of the popularity of the Kremlin-backed United Russia party.

The vote, in 76 of Russia's 83 provinces, was mainly orderly but independent election monitor Golos said it saw no improvement on earlier polls, which were marred by fraud and official harassment.