Anti-Putin Protests Continue in Moscow - Largest Yet

Two weeks ago the protests against Vladimir Putin and election fraud had been the largest ever.  These were surpassed today.  According to Russian radio Mikhael Gorbachev has called for Putin to resign.  There is a growing outrage against Putin's twelve year rule.

Four years ago Putin could not run for re-election, since the constitution prevented it and Dimitry Medvedev was elected into that post.  The United Russia Party dominated the Duma and Putin became Prime Minister.  Many believed that he was still calling the shots. 

The recent elections resulted in the United Russia Party just gaining 49% of the vote, although it still dominates the Duma.  The OECD claimed that the election was riddled with fraud, including ballot stuffing.  Many in Russia believe that the United Russia party only received about 27% of the vote.

It seems the chickens have come home to roost.  Russians are not impressed with Medvedev's promise on facebook that he had called an investigation.  Putin had close to a two hour rant on Russian television and it appears that Russians have had enough.

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.  Washington Post

Demonstrations in Russia - Against Putin's Russia?

Tens of thousands assembled in Moscow today for a protest against misuse of power and election fraud.  It seems that the neat little plan for Putin to continue holding power is falling apart.  The chickens have come home to roost.

Dimitry Medvedev, who befriended Putin during his time as a campaign manager and advisor for St. Petersburg Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.  Medvedev fit neatly into Putin's plan, when Medvedev was elected President in 2008.  There seems to have been a Putin plan all along to take power in Russia again in 2012.

It seems however the chickens have come home to roost.  After the December 4th election, Putin's United Russia Party received just under 49%, although it is enough for Putin to push his agenda.  There have been widespread allegations of ballot box stuffing and election fraud.  The OECD alleged that that the election was  fraudulent and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Russia to hold fair and free elections.

Russians shed their fear of the state power and took to the streets, initially with protests on December 5th and 6th, where Russians took to the streets shouting "Russia without Putin". The protests resulted in hundreds of arrests.

Not discouraged, protests were organize for December 10th and tens of thousands of Russians took to the street, with up to 50,000 riot police deployed ahead of the protest.  Demonstrators are demanding a rerun of the election and and end to the Putin era. 

There were protests throughout Russia, according to BBC

• Protesters in the Pacific port of Vladivostok waved banners with slogans like "The rats should go!" and "Swindlers and thieves - give us our elections back!"

• In Kurgan, on the border with Kazakhstan, police dispersed an unapproved rally after between 200 and 400 protesters gathered on a square in freezing weather

• Some 3,000 people braved temperatures of minus 20C for a two-hour rally in Novosibirsk
• At least 3,000 people rallied in Yekaterinburg to chant "Freedom to political prisoners" and "Russia without Putin", with one protester waving a large teddy bear - the symbol of the United Russia party is a bear - impaled on a stick.

Whether or not Putin will listen remains to be seen.   Is this Russia's Arab Spring?

Update: 

The protests appear to have had some success.   After massive protests yesterday, which saw very little interference by police and were broadcast on Russian media, Russian President Dimitry Medvedev ordered an investigation into allegations of polling violations during last Sunday's parliamentary election.