Candidates from Russia’s ruling party have swept the board in the nationwide elections for provincial governors, according to official results published on Monday. United Russia’s candidates secured large majorities in all 21 contests. The governor of the northern city of St Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, performed the worst, with preliminary results suggesting he has won just under 60% of the vote. Beglov is considered unpopular due to his mismanagement of St Petersburg’s administration. Independent observers complained of a high degree of interference in the city, which is President Vladimir …