Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Moscow on Saturday to protest election fraud during the parliamentary vote that took place earlier this month.
Despite a cold winter chill that sent temperatures below freezing, protesters packed a broad street about two kilometres from the Kremlin, chanting "Russia without Putin" among other slogans.
The protest was bigger than a similar demonstration two weeks ago, signalling that anger and frustration with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's 12 years in power is growing.
Protesters marched to a stage at the end of the avenue that had placards with the words "Russia will be free" and "This election is a farce."
A heavy police presence kept the crowd from getting unruly, with metal barriers keeping protesters in one area. A police helicopter monitored the protest from above.
Alexei Navalny, a lawyer and blogger who advocates against corruption, fired up the crowd with a rousing speech.
"We have enough people here to take the Kremlin," he shouted. "But we are peaceful people and we won't do that -- yet. But if these crooks and thieves keep cheating us, we will take what is ours."
Navalny spent 15 days in jail after organizing a Dec. 5 protest that drew thousands to Moscow. That protest spurred others around the country.
Russians are expressing their anger after the Dec. 4 vote in which Putin's United Russia party lost 25 per cent of its seats. Despite the result, United Russia retained a majority through what independent election observers said was widespread fraud.
Putin is hoping to retain power in the presidential elections in March, and has promised protesters some reforms that would open up competition in future elections.
However, opposition critics are sceptical that any reforms will be passed.
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov called on protesters to take to the streets again in January to continue to put pressure on the Kremlin. He also urged protesters to vote in the March elections because "a thief must not sit in the Kremlin."
Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov encouraged the crowd from the stage.
"There are so many of us here, and they (the government) are few," Kasparov said. "They are huddled up in fear behind police cordons."
Putin served as president from 2000 to 2008 before moving into the prime minister's seat due to mandated term limits.
He has appeared to make some concessions to protesters, including vowing to make it easier for opposition parties to register and to allow for the direct election of governors, which he abolished in 2004.
During a state-of-the-union address on Thursday, President Dmitry Medvedev outlined those and other proposals.
However, Putin has also accused the United States of supporting the protesters, and has joked that the white ribbons they wear to symbolize their movement resemble condoms.
"We can't tolerate such a show of disrespect for the people, for the entire nation," journalist and music critic Artyomy Troitsky told the rally while wearing a white gown that resembled a condom.
With files from The Associated Press
