Russia election: Hundreds rally against Putin in Moscow

By Dilip -

United Russia won the election, but with a sharp drop in its support, ahead of Mr Putin's bid to return to the presidency next March. Electoral officials said the party had just under 50%, down from 64% in 2007. United Russia lost 77 seats, in a vote which is being seen as a popularity test for Mr Putin. The OSCE noted apparent manipulations in the conduct of the election, such as the stuffing of ballot boxes.
'Crooks and thieves' On Monday night, several thousand people protested in central Moscow against PM Vladimir Putin, and demanded honest elections. They denounced the vote as shameful, and shouted "Russia without Putin!" and "Revolution!" Correspondents say it appeared to be one of the biggest opposition demonstrations in central Moscow in years. Police said they detained more than 300 people protesting against Mr Putin and his party, United Russia.

"They are a party of crooks and thieves," said popular anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, who was one of those arrested in Moscow. Mr Navalny later put out a tweet saying he was "sitting in a [police] bus" and photos were posted of him, apparently being held at a police station. About 100 opposition protesters were detained in Russia's second city, St Petersburg, after holding an unauthorised rally on the main avenue, Nevsky Prospekt. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16042797

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