Largest protests yet in Moscow

MOSCOW — Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in the Russian capital Saturday in the largest protest so far against election fraud, signaling growing outrage over Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's 12-year rule.

The demonstration in Moscow was even bigger than a similar protest two weeks ago, although rallies in other cities in the far east and Siberia earlier in the day drew much smaller crowds than on Dec. 10. The demonstrations are the largest show of discontent the nation has seen since the 1991 Soviet collapse.

Rally participants densely packed a broad avenue, which has room for nearly 100,000 people, about 1.5 miles from the Kremlin, on a snowy day. They chanted "Russia without Putin!"

A stage at the end of the half-mile avenue featured placards reading "Russia will be free" and "This election Is a farce." Heavy police cordons encircled the participants, who stood within metal barriers, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

The recent protests in Moscow and other cities have dented Putin's authority as he seeks to reclaim the presidency in a March vote. The Kremlin has responded by promising a set of political reforms that would allow more political competition in future elections.

But protest leaders say they will continue pushing for a rerun of the Dec. 4 parliamentary election and punishment for officials accused of vote fraud. They say maintaining momentum is key to forcing Putin's government to accept their demands.

People protest against the December 4 parliament elections in Moscow, on December 24, 2011.

/ YURI KADOBNOV/AFP/Getty Images

"We don't trust him," opposition leader Boris Nemtsov told the rally, urging protesters to gather again next month to make sure that the proposed changes are put into law.

Nemtsov called on the demonstrators to go to the polls in March to unseat Putin. "A thief must not sit in the Kremlin," he said.

"We want to back those who are fighting for our rights," said 16-year-old Darya Andryukhina, who said she had also attended the previous rally.

"People have come here because they want respect," said Tamara Voronina, 54, who said she was proud of her three sons, who had also joined the protest.

The protests reflect a growing public frustration with Putin, who ruled Russia as president in 2000-2008 and has remained the No. 1 leader after moving into the prime minister's seat due to a constitutional term limit.

Putin has accused the United States of fomenting the protests in order to weaken Russia and has said, sarcastically, that he thought the white ribbons many protesters wear as an emblem were condoms.

In a response to Putin's blustery rhetoric, one protester Saturday held a picture montage of Putin with his head wrapped in a condom like a grandmother's headscarf. Another held a sign saying: "Hillary, I'm still waiting for my money," referring to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"We can't tolerate such a show of disrespect for the people, for the entire nation," journalist and music critic Artyomy Troitsky said in a speech at the rally. He wore a white gown that resembled a condom, mocking Putin's comment.

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[julianpenrod]

According to NPR's frequent commentator, Adam Frank. the Russians are being foolish in trying to improve their circumstances. In the illiterately entitled article, "Have A Well-Being Holidays", Frank recommends not caring about how things are, not wishing for things to be better, not trying to improve circumstances. The only thing you should wish is that things be the way they ware. Frank calls this attitude "well-being", dictators term it "contentment", blind, vacant acceptance.

[TakeNoBull]

Senator Barry Goldwater------>> Those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. Absolute power does corrupt, and those who seek it must be suspect and must be opposed.

[trueblueusa]

Crowd looks like the
Pained Palin,Gone Beck Rally

[DAGLAG]

Putin is a Communist.
Communists kill those who are opposed to them.
Good luck to those who oppose Putin - they will need it, because no one will help them.

[Danize]

Too bad this didn't happy when Bush and his cronies stole ther election...

[Automaton111]

In before some tea bagger calls the protestors dirty hippies who need to obey the corrupt leaders and get a bath and a job.

[smittyc]

Well it's a relief that their demonstrating and there is no violence. Hopefully what ever is occurring will be resolved peacefully, Russia still has the nuclear capacity of the U.S. or close to it. An unstable leadership could be dangerous for the whole globe.

[lloydbest1]

It seems as if the "American Autumn" movement has been copied elsewhere. Different reasons on the surface but the same underlying cause that unite and drive the "Arab Springers", strikes in France and Greece, the anger of the Tea Party, the OWS at home, the brief outburst in Madrid in 2004 and the show of discontent now evident in Russia......

.....The concentration of power within the economic elite and the deceit of supposedly representitive governments working hand in glove with them to further entrench the power they already have.

It's not so much "Democracy" that's needed (tho' it sure helps) but justice. An abstraction, of course and hard to define but most of know it when we see it. And we also know it's lack when we see that as well. "We the people", as a few posters like to refer to us commoners, are seeing way too much of justice's lack - not just here but worldwide - and, as is becoming more evident, are begining to get p!ssed.

[netjunkie1]

The Russians should not have to live under an authority such as Putin any longer.
If Prime Minister Putin cheated in the elections as many many have said, he doesn't deserve the position..
He has arrested and inprisoned others that threaten his control, they who clearly are leaders should be released from prison, and Putin be exiled to the US.
This would only happen of course after the people take their goverenment back.

[berlinfoto-2009]

"Putin be exiled to the US." He and his counter parts in the United States could compare notes on what is the best way to rig an election. Remember entire ballot boxes filled with their ballots were found in dumpsters behind polling places in the desert southwest in 2004.
An angry mob stopped the legal recount in 2000, in Florida.
Dead people always have a way of stuffing the ballot boxes in Chicago.

[Kieren1]

Old Putin is feeling some heat at home ... the Russian people truly don't trust this guy and they shouldn't. This is long past due ...