Russian election protests

Russian police officers detain an opposition protester during a protest near the Central Election Committee in Moscow on March, 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of Russia's presidential election, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Russian police officers detain opposition leader Edouard Limonov during a protest near the Central Election Committee in Moscow on March, 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of Russia's presidential election, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Russian police officers detain an opposition protester during a protest near the Central Election Committee in Moscow on March 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of the vote, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

An opposition protester shouts slogan from a police vehicle during a protest near the Central Election Committee in Moscow on March 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of the vote, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Russian police officers block the street to prevent protests near the Central Election Committee in Moscow, Monday, March, 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of the vote, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Riot police officers cordon off an area of an opposition rally demanding fair elections at Pushkinskaya Square in central Moscow March 5, 2012.

Police officers detain opposition activists at Moscow's Pushkinskaya Square March 5, 2012, as they refuse to leave the venue at the end of their larger rally earlier. — AFP/Getty Images

Police officers detain opposition activists at Moscow's Pushkin Square March 5, 2012, as they refuse to leave the venue at the end of their larger rally earlier.

Police officers detain an opposition activists during a protest against vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where about 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russian presidential election.

Russian riot police officers block opposition activists during a protest against alleged vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. Demonstrators contested the outcome of the Russian presidential election Monday, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Police officers detain an opposition activists during a protest against vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where about 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russian presidential election.

Riot police officers block opposition activists during a protest against vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012, with the St. Isaak's Cathedral seen in the background. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where about 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russian presidential election.

Russian police officers detain an opposition activist during a protest against alleged vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where some 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in the presidential election.

Russian police officers detain opposition leader Eduard Limonov (Center) during a protest near the Central Election Committee in Moscow on March, 5, 2012. Demonstrators are contesting the outcome of the vote, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

A Russian police officer detains an opposition activist as his friends try to free him during a protest against alleged vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where some 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russian presidential election.

Police officers detain RIA-Novosti photographer Andrei Stenin as they detain demonstrators who attempted to hold an unsanctioned protest in Moscow on March 5, 2012. Demonstrators contested the outcome of the Russian presidential election Monday, pointing to a campaign heavily slanted in Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's favor and to reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Russian police officers detain opposition activists during a protest against alleged vote rigging in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 5, 2012. More then 100 protesters were arrested in St. Petersburg, where some 2,000 gathered for an unauthorized rally to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russian presidential election.

Russian police gather near the site of a protest in downtown Moscow on March 5, 2012. A large rally held Monday to protest against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election was sanctioned by authorities but security was tight, with some 12,000 police deployed to ensure order.

Opposition protesters shout anti Putin's slogans after a rally in Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders. The police action followed a rally in downtown Moscow that drew about 20,000 protesters angry over a campaign slanted in Putin's favor and reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Russian police officers block a street near the site of a protest in downtown Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders. The police action followed a rally in downtown Moscow that drew about 20,000 protesters angry over a campaign slanted in Putin's favor and reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Police detain protest leader Alexei Navalny, seen wearing hooded jacket, after a rally in Pushkin Square in Moscow on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders.

Police officers detain a demonstrator, center, after a rally in Pushkin Square protest in Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders.

Police officers block opposition protesters after the massive rally in Pushkin Square protest in downtown Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders. The police action followed a rally in Moscow that drew about 20,000 protesters angry over a campaign slanted in Putin's favor and reports of widespread violations in Sunday's ballot.

Opposition protesters shout anti-Putin slogans after a rally in Pushkin Square in Moscow, Russia on March 5, 2012. Riot police on Monday broke up an opposition protest contesting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, arresting dozens of participants, including prominent opposition leaders.