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| Russian election: Crowds gather for Moscow protests | Russian election: Crowds gather for Moscow protests |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thousands of protesters have gathered in Moscow in a show of anger over disputed parliamentary polls. | |
| The opposition says the protest - on an island just south of the Kremlin - could become the largest the country has seen in two decades. | |
| Smaller rallies have taken place in cities across the country. | |
| Protesters allege there was widespread fraud in Sunday's polls - though the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall sharply. | Protesters allege there was widespread fraud in Sunday's polls - though the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall sharply. |
| Hundreds of people have been arrested during anti-Putin protests over the past week, mainly in Moscow and St Petersburg. | Hundreds of people have been arrested during anti-Putin protests over the past week, mainly in Moscow and St Petersburg. |
| At least 50,000 police and riot troops were deployed in Moscow ahead of Saturday's protests. | |
| Authorities have permitted up to 30,000 to attend the demonstration dubbed "For Fair Elections". | Authorities have permitted up to 30,000 to attend the demonstration dubbed "For Fair Elections". |
| Rallies have seen thousands turn out in cities in across the Urals and Siberia and as far east as Vladivostok, seven timezones to the east of Moscow, where several hundred people marched earlier on Saturday. | |
| Protest relocated | Protest relocated |
| Police say at least 15,000 people - among them communists, nationalists and liberals - have so far thronged in Moscow, and more crowds are heading towards the rally. | |
| In Moscow, the two sides reached a deal by which authorities would allow a high turnout if the rally was relocated from central Revolution Square to Bolotnaya Square, a narrow island in the Moscow River where access points can be easily controlled. | |
| Hundreds of police are standing by to make sure they don't rally in Revolution Square. | |
| The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says in the past week, the city has resembled a police state rather than a democracy. | The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow says in the past week, the city has resembled a police state rather than a democracy. |
| If the protests come even close to expectations, they will shake the 12-year-long political domination of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, he says. | If the protests come even close to expectations, they will shake the 12-year-long political domination of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, he says. |
| The authorities permitted demonstrations to take place in specific locations in certain cities after negotiations with opposition leaders. | The authorities permitted demonstrations to take place in specific locations in certain cities after negotiations with opposition leaders. |
| In St Petersburg, 13,000 people have pledged on the social networking site Vkontakte to take part in protests, with another 20,000 saying they might take part. | In St Petersburg, 13,000 people have pledged on the social networking site Vkontakte to take part in protests, with another 20,000 saying they might take part. |
| An hour before the protest was set to begin, small crowds were forming in an unauthorised spot in St Petersburg, reports the BBC's Richard Galpin - and scuffles had already broken out between demonstrators and police apparently attempting to make some arrests. | An hour before the protest was set to begin, small crowds were forming in an unauthorised spot in St Petersburg, reports the BBC's Richard Galpin - and scuffles had already broken out between demonstrators and police apparently attempting to make some arrests. |
| Authorities have granted permission for a demonstration in one location, but say protests anywhere else will be illegal and will be dealt with. | Authorities have granted permission for a demonstration in one location, but say protests anywhere else will be illegal and will be dealt with. |
| The official results of the elections to Russia's Duma showed that the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall from 64% to 49%, though it remained easily the biggest party. | The official results of the elections to Russia's Duma showed that the ruling United Russia party saw its share of the vote fall from 64% to 49%, though it remained easily the biggest party. |
| But there is a widespread view, fuelled by mobile phone videos and accounts on internet social networking sites, that there was wholesale election fraud and that Mr Putin's party cheated its way to victory, our correspondent says. | But there is a widespread view, fuelled by mobile phone videos and accounts on internet social networking sites, that there was wholesale election fraud and that Mr Putin's party cheated its way to victory, our correspondent says. |
| On Friday, the presidential Council for Human Rights advising Mr Medvedev said the reports of vote-rigging were of deep concern, and that the elections should be rerun if they were confirmed. | On Friday, the presidential Council for Human Rights advising Mr Medvedev said the reports of vote-rigging were of deep concern, and that the elections should be rerun if they were confirmed. |
| However the council has no power to order a fresh ballot, correspondents say. | However the council has no power to order a fresh ballot, correspondents say. |
| Earlier this week, security experts said attempts had been made to counter online dissent in Russia, with hijacked PCs being used to drown out online chat on Twitter. | Earlier this week, security experts said attempts had been made to counter online dissent in Russia, with hijacked PCs being used to drown out online chat on Twitter. |
| Analysis of the many pro-Kremlin messages posted to some discussions suggested they were sent by machines, according to security firm Trend Micro. | Analysis of the many pro-Kremlin messages posted to some discussions suggested they were sent by machines, according to security firm Trend Micro. |
| Momentum | Momentum |
| These are the most significant street protests against Mr Putin since he took power, our correspondent says - but at this point they are not drawing the big numbers they would need to really put the Kremlin in trouble. | These are the most significant street protests against Mr Putin since he took power, our correspondent says - but at this point they are not drawing the big numbers they would need to really put the Kremlin in trouble. |
| It will be a question of seeing whether the momentum builds and spreads from the metropolitan middle classes. | It will be a question of seeing whether the momentum builds and spreads from the metropolitan middle classes. |
| Even so, our correspondent adds, it is an extraordinary thing to witness Mr Putin under fire like this. | Even so, our correspondent adds, it is an extraordinary thing to witness Mr Putin under fire like this. |
| Mr Putin, who was president between 2000 and 2008, remains widely predicted to win a presidential election in March. | Mr Putin, who was president between 2000 and 2008, remains widely predicted to win a presidential election in March. |
| On Thursday, he blamed the US for stoking the recent unrest, after Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expressed reservations over the poll. | On Thursday, he blamed the US for stoking the recent unrest, after Secretary of State Hilary Clinton expressed reservations over the poll. |
| The prime minister said Mrs Clinton's remarks had "set the tone for some opposition activists". | The prime minister said Mrs Clinton's remarks had "set the tone for some opposition activists". |
| Are you in Moscow? Are you planning to protest? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Moscow? Are you planning to protest? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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