Russians protest Putin, election fraud

With St. Basil's Cathedral in the background, protesters wave a red flag as a symbol of revolution as they march during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Russians angered by allegedly fraudulent parliamentary elections are protesting Saturday in cities from the freezing Pacific Coast to the southwest of Russia, eight time zones away - a striking show of indignation, challenging Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's hold on power.

Demonstrators hold posters demanding a new election during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

An elderly demonstrator holds a poster showing an edited photo of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reading "2050. No," during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

A protester stands during a rally in downtown St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. A sign reads "No vote." More than 10,000 people protested in St. Petersburg against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his party, which won the largest share of a parliamentary election that observers say was rigged.

Protesters gather together to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

People stand on the bridge as they attend a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. The banner on the bridge reads: "Crooks, give us the election back."

Protesters march through the Bolshoi Moskvoretsky bridge during a mass rally to protest alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, with Red Square blocked by police trucks in the background.

Protests took place in at least 15 cities across several time zones, most attracting crowds of several hundred to a thousand. More than 30,000 were expected at the rally in Moscow.

Police guard the Red Square area during a mass protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Riot police officers stand near security trucks during an authorized opposition protest against the government, in central Moscow, December 10, 2011.

Hundreds of security trucks blocked off central squares while helicopters patrolled the skies, as Moscow deployed more than 50,000 riot police and troops on the biggest day of protest to hit Russia since the turbulent 1990s.

A demonstrator holds a leaflet that reads, "The United Russia party is a party of crooks and thieves," during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Demonstrators shout during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Protesters gather during a rally in downtown St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Protesters shout anti-Putin slogans during a mass rally to protest alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, with the Kremlin is the background.

An opposition activist shouts during a protest rally against the alleging mass fraud in the December 4 parliamentary polls in central Moscow, on December 10, 2011.

Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov speaks at a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Opposition activists protest against the alleging mass fraud in the December 4 parliamentary polls in central Moscow, on December 10, 2011. The posters with photos of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin read: "Boys, it's time to go!"

The partly-seen poster (right), which shows a photo of Vladimir Lenin's Mausoleum with the sign "Putin" on it, reads: "We believe, hope and expect [to witness this]!"

Protesters shout anti-Putin slogans during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Riot police detain a protester during a rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. More than 10,000 people have protested in St. Petersburg against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his party, which won the largest share of a parliamentary election that observers say was rigged.

An opposition activist fights with a police officer during a rally in downtown St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Police vehicles are seen on Bolshoy Zamoskvoretsky Bridge during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.

Signs are held aloft as the protest in Bolotnaya Square comes to an end on December 10, 2011 in Moscow, Russia.

Protesters light flares during a mass rally to protest against alleged vote rigging in Russia's parliamentary elections in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011.