Barack Obama: the View From Russia

Russians this morning reacted enthusiastically to Obama's victory - with many voicing the hope that he will improve US-Russian relations, which have severely strained during the Bush years.

There was also relief that John McCain - seen in Moscow as the more aggressively anti-Russian of the two presidential candidates - failed to win.

McCain had infuriated the Kremlin by calling for Russia's expulsion from the G8 club of industrialized countries following August's war in Georgia. On this occasion the US electorate had got it right, several said.

"I always assumed that Americans were rational and that they would pick Obama," Alexander Sukhov, 47, a lawyer, said today, near his Moscow office.

Sukhov said that McCain's chances had risen during the war in Georgia - only to sink again with the global economic crisis. He added: "I don't expect relations with Moscow and Washington to change fundamentally, but I do think they will go in a better direction."

Russians woke up to news of Obama's victory - with confirmation that he had won the presidency coming at 7am (4am GMT) local time, as workers struggled back to the office under a grey sky after a long three-day bank holiday.

"Obama is good news for Russia. He will get America out of Iraq, improve relations, and end the Cold War with our country," Sergei Chizhov, a 31-year-old car dealer declared.

Chizhov said George Bush's presidency had been "a nightmare" for Russia. "He supported Georgia against us during the war. Obama won't support Georgia in the same way. From the beginning Bush's rhetoric has been anti-Russian. Things have been difficult for us ever since he became president," he said.There were contrary views on whether ordinary Russians would welcome the US's first black president. Racism is commonplace in Russia, with frequent attacks here on ethnic workers from post-Soviet countries.

"Personally I'm pleased that Obama has won," Max Stamen, 21, a musician, said. He added: "I think it's normal. But his election is likely to disappoint a lot of people in Russia, especially all our skinheads. I don't think many Russians are especially tolerant of the idea of a black man as president."Vladimir Sezdozetsky, 31, a businessman, said he was glad Obama had won - rather than what he termed "that old guy"."The most important thing about Obama isn't that he's black but that he's young. I'm glad he won. It's better that Obama is the president than some 72-year-old old guy who - let's face it - is going to die soon."In a country as diverse as Russia - which includes numerous ethnic minority groups - some identified with Obama as a fellow-outsider.

Ludmila Nigmatullina, 48, an accountant, said: "That he is black isn't important. I'm a Tartar and a Muslim, grew up in Siberia and come from an ethnic minority inside Russia. There is no reason why people from an ethnic minority background can't be trusted."