Thousands of people protested in Moscow and St. Petersburg this week, against what they said was a fraudulent parliamentary election, shouting "Revolution!" and calling for an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's rule.
Moscow Election Protests Draw Thousands
December 7: Riot police detain a protester during a rally in downtown St. Petersburg. (AP/Dmitry Lovetsky)
A protester seen during a rally in downtown St. Petersburg. The sign reads: " My vote was stolen at the election". (AP/Dmitry Lovetsky)
Russian opposition members listen during a rally in Moscow, Russia. Several thousand people have protested against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his party, which won the largest share of a parliamentary election that observers said was rigged. (AP/Iva
Red lights of police cars are reflected on the wet asphalt where police officers block the road after a political rally in downtown Moscow. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
At Sunday's parliamentary polls, Russia's communists drew students, intellectuals, even some businessmen, in forging an opposition to Vladimir Putin's wounded United Russia party. (REUTERS/Anton Golubey)
Russian Communist Party supporters hold flags with the color and emblem of the Communist Party during a protest against the election results. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian police detain a participant during an protest in Moscow. (REUTERS/Anton Golubev)
December 6: Pro-Kremlin youth activists take part in a demonstration, as a response to recent opposition rallies, in central Moscow. (REUTERS/Mikhail Voskresnsky)
December 6: Russian blogger, political and social activist Alexei Navalny , who was detained during a protest a day before, is escorted to attend hearings at Tverskoi district court in Moscow. (REUTERS/Anton Golubev)
December 6: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with supporters in Moscow. (AP/Misha Japaridze)