Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ST PETERSBURG - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday scolded leaders of Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure democratic local elections last month and told them to win future contests fairly.

In his sharpest public criticism to date, Medvedev told the annual congress of the United Russia party in St Petersburg that the organisation had to open up and modernise.

"We need to learn to win -- all of us, in fact -- we need to learn to win in open contests," Medvedev told hundreds of delegates in a session broadcast live on state television.

United Russia, headed by Medvedev's mentor Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, crushed opposition parties in regional elections held across much of Russia in October.

The opposition said the vote was marred by numerous violations but election officials dismissed protests and Medvedev had initially congratulated the victors.

Watched by Putin from the audience, Medvedev said United Russia, compared by critics to the Soviet-era Communist Party in its dominance of political and public life, had to change.

"The party ... is only an instrument," he told delegates. "Yes, a very important, absolutely necessary instrument but just an instrument, a means but not an end."

As he spoke, Putin sat looking through some papers, making notes and periodically chatting with United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov. He joined in the brief bursts of applause which punctuated the president's speech but rarely looked up at Medvedev.

Putin was next to speak after Medvedev but he began his speech by talking about how Russia's economy planned to recover from the financial crisis and resume growth.

Medvedev was hand-picked by Putin to succeed him in the Kremlin. Since he took office 18 months ago, he has frequently made criticisms of Russia's economy and political system but diplomats and businessmen say little has changed in practice.