Tens of thousands of Russians protested in cities across Russia over allegations of voting fraud in recent parliamentary elections. The protests were sparked by claims that the ruling United Russia party manipulated the election results to maintain its majority control of the parliament. Demonstrators demanded the resignation of the head of the country's central election commission and called for an end to Vladimir Putin's dominance of Russian politics. The largest demonstrations occurred in Moscow and St. Petersburg, with protesters chanting slogans against Putin and United Russia. The protests represented a rare display of public dissent in Russia.

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I N V E S TI N G | 12/10/2011 @ 11:23AM | 1,644 views
Russia Besieged By Protesters
2 comments, 2 called-out + Comment now
Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets
from the far and cold eastern coastline all the way
to Red Square, chanting “Russia without Putin!”
The protests were promised on Friday by
opposition political parties, mainly the
Communist Party, and they delivered. News
reports said “tens of thousands” were protesting
what they saw as widespread government backed
voting fraud in the Parliamentary elections on
Sunday.
In the elections, the
ruling United Russia
party lost 77 seats in the
state Duma, taking them out of a full power position
which enabled them to change the Russian
constitution without needing votes from other
parties. The Communist Party, the number two party
A Blogger Could in the Parliament, also known as the Duma, rose
Start Russia's from around 50 seats to over 90, its biggest jump Most Popular
Arab Spring since the fall of communism in 1992. NEWS People Places Companies
Paul Roderick Gregory
Contributor
The Communist Party, along with the Liberal Why Best Buy is Going out of
Democratic Party and A Just Russia Party all said Business...Gradually +18,108 views
that they would have won even more seats in the
How To Be More Interesting (In 10
Duma if not for voting fraud perpetuated by United Russia.
Simple Steps) +17,342 views
While the Russian economy is doing better that it ever has under United Kardashian Klan Still Kashing In (Sorry
Russia, voters were peeved by the fact that Russian president Dmitry New York Post) +15,920 views
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2011/12/10/russia-besieged-by-protesters/ 1/15/2012

2. Russia Besieged By Protesters - Forbes Page 2 of 4
Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladmir Putin announced in September that The Seven Habits of Spectacularly
they were essentially changing roles next year. Putin would run for president Unsuccessful Executives +12,200 views
under United Russia, a party in which he heads, and Medvedev would likely
How To Live A Mind-blowingly Amazing
become the prime minister. Putin has been in some position of power since Life +9,331 views
the time Boris Yeltisin appointed him as prime minister in the late 1990s.
Putin later became president of Russia in 2000 and was re-elected four years + show more
later. He is likely to be elected again on March 4, 2012. If it’s not the economy
that has people up in arms, what is it?
Kenneth Rapoza
Contributor
“It’s corruption,” said Shan Nair, a business consulting working with clients in
+ Follow on Forbes
Russia. “There is a perception, a very real perception, that the Russian
government and the United Russia Party that runs it, is not all that interested I covered Brazil pre-Lula and post-Lula and spent
in corruption.” the last five years covering all aspects of the country
for Dow Jones, Wall Street Journal and Barron's.
People are, however, and the latest round of vote fraud allegations has them Meanwhile, for an undetermined amount of time,
and with a little help from my friends, I will be
in the streets all week. parachuting into Russia, India and China. (I figure
if Anderson Cooper can parachute, I can parachute.)
The demonstration is an unprecedented test of Putin’s tolerance for
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed
Democracy. It is a rare, large-scale display of popular unease with Russian are those of the writer.
politics post-Yeltsin.
KEN NE TH RAPO Z A’S POPUL AR POST S
“United Russia undoubtedly put unofficial pressure on the state governors Obama Heads to Rio Sunday; Maximum Security
and mayors to go and get out the vote,” said Jonathan Harris, a professor of Awaits 314,055 views
political science at the University of Pittsburgh. “We saw similar pressures in Rubber Bullets Fly at Anti-Obama Protest In Rio
2007 where there were massive allegations of voter fraud from internal 265,273 views
monitors. Western observers weren’t even allowed in the country. You had Earthquake Closes Tokyo Disneyland for 10 Days-
Kyodo 41,234 views
Chechnya for example register 99% of their votes back then for United Russia.
Unheard of. I think proving fraud is going to be hard.” The Brains Behind 'Occupy Wall Street' 37,167 views
Where To Park A Million Dollars (Or $1,000)
In Moscow, thousands of protesters waving banners and chanting slogans like 35,972 views
“Swindlers and Thieves!” and “Churov Resign!” – references to United Russia
MOR E F RO M KENN ET H R APOZ A
and election commission chief Vladimir Churov – converged on a square in
the east side of the city where they had permission to rally.
Police estimated the size of the Moscow rally at around 25,000 people.
Organizers said it was closer to 40,000. At one moment, the crowd turned in
the direction of the Kremlin and shouted “Putin out!” Kenneth’s News Stream
Show all activity (20)
Both Medvedev and the Ministry of the Interior have called for a full
investigation of video tapes that recorded fraud, like ballot stuffing. Police Comment 3 days ago
Im not so sure about that. 40% is impressive. He
were given until next Thursday to file their full report on their findings. will be the [...]
on Romney Has Momentum, But Excitement
“When you get a shift like this in popular opinion it is hard to know how all of Another Matter
it will reverberate throughout the system,” said Harris. “This could help social
democratic parties like Just Russia, but for now, they are all so small in New Post 4 days ago
Inside The Ron Paul Primary Party
comparison to United Russia that any change is years away.”
See: Thousands Rally Against Putin, Vote Fraud –Associated Press New Post 4 days ago
Romney Has Momentum, But Excitement
Another Matter
2 comments, 2 called-out + Comment now
New Post 4 days ago
In New Hampshire, This Guy's Everybody's
29 14 3 Buddy
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normaward 1 month ago
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Here is an example of misleading information regarding Russia’s recent election and
College Right Now
demonstrations courtesy of a major television network:
http://viableopposition.blogspot.com/2011/12/propaganda-aint-it-great.html
Called-out comment
Reply
Kenneth Rapoza, Contributor 1 month ago Author
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Gotta love Fox News. Its what happens when you pay your producers crap.
Cars
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