It seems that no vote can take place in Russia without accusations flying over overzealous electioneering, dirty tricks or straightforward rigging.  Last night’s TV vote for the mascots of the Sochi Winter Olympics has proved no different.   Putin’s public backing of the snowboarding leopard, who proved to be the eventual winner, alongside a doe-eyed hare and scarf-wearing polar bear, has raised questions about certain mascot candidates, namely the Prime Minister’s ‘strong, fast and beautiful’ big cat, being given an unsporting advantage.  From AFP:

Allegations of plagiarism, high-level political meddling and sheer poor taste on Sunday marred Russia’s choice of three furry mascots to represent the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Russians chose three mascots — a cute-looking snow leopard, polar bear and hare — by popular vote in a seemingly innocent television show late Saturday that aimed to choose a people’s mascot.