Tens of thousands of Russian protesters braved bone-chilling temperatures on Saturday as they swept into Moscow, rallying against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule.
"So many of us have come that they can't arrest all of us," said 56-year-old demonstrator Alexander Zelensky as he marched with his wife.
Organizers estimate 120,000 protesters attended the rally intended to be a show of force against the prospect of Putin further extending his 12 years in office.
Many pollsters anticipate the Russian PM will win the nation's March 4th election, in spite of Putin himself acknowledging last week that he could face a runoff.
Still, those who flooded into Moscow on Saturday wearing ribbons and holdings placards reading "Russia Without Putin!" assert that six more years under his rule would be six years too many.
Zelensky's wife Alyona Karimova said she hopes the mounting opposition against Putin is a sign that Russia is edging towards a different style of governance.
"This is going to be a gradual process, but we believe it will eventually lead to democracy and free elections," she said.
Even with its large numbers, the rally remained peaceful and represented a fairly wide swath of the Russian public, noted The New York Times' Moscow Bureau reporter Michael Schwirtz.
"There was a huge column of communists, a huge column of nationalists, people representing various Liberal parties, gay and lesbian groups," he told 麻豆影视 Channel on Saturday, adding that many of the attendees were well-to-do Muscovites.
Officials did agree to authorize Saturday's protest, which comes on the heels of two similar rallies which are believed to be the biggest in Russia since protests 20 years ago that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"Certainly they got their message heard," said Schwirtz.
He added that government-run media have broadcast previous protests with a "pretty objective view."
December's protests occurred after allegations of election fraud in favour of Putin's party plagued that month's parliamentary election.
For his part, Putin has ignored requests for a do-over.
Anti-Putin sentiment was also strong in St. Petersburg on Saturday, the site of a smaller protest which drew a smaller crowd of about 5,000. Dozens of cities across Russia held similar events.
"There are more protests planned," Schwirtz said in a telephone interview from Moscow. "As far as we know the next major protest is planned for March 5th."
Back in Russia's capital, many demonstrators bundled up in fur on Saturday as the temperature dipped as low as - 20 C.
Across town, Putin's backers gathered for a rally of their own, which drew about 15,000 people. Several of the supporters including union activists and teachers said they showed up willingly while others admitted they had been asked to attend.
Putin is squaring off against three other competitors in the presidential race. All but one of his opponents have run against him in the past.
Election newcomer Mikhail Prokhorov is the billionaire owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team. He joined Saturday's protest but didn't make any speeches.
With files from The Associated Press
