Huge Anti-Putin Protest Descends On Moscow

Thousands of Russians have attended what could be the biggest protest since the disputed parliamentary elections on December 4.

The gathering is being seen as a litmus test for the opposition which was also hoping for a high-profile turnout with journalists, writers, opposition leaders and bloggers taking to the podium.

Those attending included the novelist Boris Akunin, former chess champion Garry Kasparov and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who has said he will challenge current prime minister Vladimir Putin for the presidency next year.

Opposition leaders including former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov addressed the crowds.

The authorities had sanctioned a gathering for 50,000 people on Moscow's Sakharov Avenue.

The demonstration received support from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, although he was not present.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Anti-Putin Protest
• Moscow
• Sakharov Avenue
• Mikhail Gorbachev
• crowds
• Boris Akunin
• Garry Kasparov
• Mikhail Prokhorov

[Indiaonlineable]

WTF Where are bears?

[flymobilll]

oh! he feel 20,000 twice more 100,000. the opposition get smarter and smarter, before 1 year this gay will say 20,000 is like 100.000 :D

[TheKrIVel]

this is like festival...

[TheDominiRoom]

cutie