Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin today warned against the dangers of foreign influence at a campaign rally attended by tens of thousands of people.

Tens of thousands of people held the largest anti-government protests that post-Soviet Russia has ever seen today to criticise electoral fraud and demand an end to Vladimir Putin's rule.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed his long-serving prime minister today and nominated little-known Cabinet official Victor Zubkov to replace him in a surprise move that could put Zubkov in the running to replace Putin next year.