Thousands protest against Putin's rule

Thousands of Russians have taken to the streets of Moscow to demand an end to prime minister Vladimir Putin’s rule, challenging his bid to reclaim the presidency in March.

The march across the centre of the capital is the third big anti-Putin demonstration, and is expected to draw tens of thousands despite temperatures plunging to minus 20C (minus 4F).

Protesters wearing white ribbons and holding placards reading “Russia Without Putin” and “For Free Elections” were marching to a square across the river from the Kremlin where a rally will be held.

The crowd appeared to be bigger than the two rallies in December – which drew up to 120,000 people – despite the plunging temperatures.

The authorities have sanctioned the latest march, even though they had rejected the organisers’ earlier request to gather outside the Kremlin.

Two rallies in December became the country’s largest show of public outrage since the protests 20 years ago that brought down the Soviet Union.

The protests have been triggered by evidence of fraud in favour of Mr Putin’s party in December’s parliamentary election.

He has ignored the demands for a repeat election, but he has sought to assuage the mostly urban middle class protesters’ anger by making vague promises of liberalisation.

He has sought to consolidate his core support group of blue-collar workers, farmers, public servants and the elderly with frequent meetings with pre-selected groups of people, which received lavish prime-time coverage on state-controlled nationwide television stations.

Mr Putin’s backers gathered across town today in an apparent attempt to demonstrate public support for his course, but the rally only drew about 15,000 people.

Municipal workers, union activists and teachers who showed up there said they came of their own will, but some admitted they had been asked by authorities to attend.