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Russia election protests: Troops sent to Moscow | Russia election protests: Troops sent to Moscow |
(40 minutes later) | |
Thousands of police and interior ministry troops are being deployed in Moscow, after protesters accused the authorities of rigging the election. | |
Troop lorries were seen heading for the centre as the interior ministry said it aimed "to ensure the security of the citizens". | |
Several thousand people attended Monday's protest, one of the biggest in the centre of the capital in years. | |
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has played down his party's poll reverses. | |
At least 300 protesters were arrested at Monday's protests in Moscow including Alexei Navalny, a leading campaigner against corruption and fierce critic of Mr Putin. | |
A counter-demonstration by Putin supporters was held beside Red Square on Tuesday. | A counter-demonstration by Putin supporters was held beside Red Square on Tuesday. |
Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that Sunday's election had been slanted in favour of Mr Putin's party, United Russia. | Observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that Sunday's election had been slanted in favour of Mr Putin's party, United Russia. |
'Inevitable losses' | |
United Russia won the election with just under 50% of the vote, a sharp drop in its support. | United Russia won the election with just under 50% of the vote, a sharp drop in its support. |
Correspondents say the result reflects Mr Putin's declining popularity ahead of his bid for the Russian presidency in March. | Correspondents say the result reflects Mr Putin's declining popularity ahead of his bid for the Russian presidency in March. |
But speaking to United Russia officials in Moscow on Tuesday, the prime minister and former two-term president suggested that electoral losses were inevitable for any party in power. | |
"Yes, there were losses and they are inevitable," he said, quoted by Russian news agencies. | |
"They are inevitable for any political force, especially for one which, not for the first year, bears the brunt of responsibility for the situation in the country." | |
Mr Putin also rejected the accusation by Mr Navalny and others that his party was especially corrupt. | |
"This is a label applied not to a specific political party but to authorities [in general]," he said, promising to tackle the issue. | |
Are you in Russia? Are you in Moscow? What do you think of the Interior ministry's act? Send us your comments and experiences. |