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    December 09, 2011

Moscow Braces for Anti-Putin Rally

   VOA News
   Russian police detain an activist during an opposition protest in St.
   Petersburg December 8, 2011. Photo: Reuters

   Russian authorities have decided to allow the opposition to hold a
   massive protest against election fraud.
   Rally organizers said Friday up to 30,000 protesters are expected at
   the demonstration Saturday, on a square across the river from the
   Kremlin.
   The announcement of the rally follows a violent crackdown on a series
   of demonstrations earlier this week, after Prime Minister Vladimir
   Putin's United Russia party won parliamentary elections Sunday.
   The prime minister's party barely held on to the lower house, but
   opposition parties and observers contend the winning results were
   probably inflated.
   Putin appears to be set to win the March election, which would return
   him to the president's office.
   Thursday, he lashed out at U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
   because of her comments about the election and the protests. He accused
   Clinton of of instigating protesters in order to weaken Russia.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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