Tens Of Thousands Gather For Putin Protests

Tens of thousands of people have gathered on the streets of Moscow to stage mass protests both for and against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Huge crowds took part in four rallies in the Russian capital - the largest of which is expected to be an anti-Putin march from Oktyabrskaya metro to Bolotnaya Square.

Temperatures of -16C did not appear to deter many protesters from coming out on Saturday.

Most wore a white ribbon, which was adopted as a symbol of the protests, and held placards reading "Russia Without Putin" and "For Free Elections".

Sky's Amanda Walker, in Moscow, said: "There were concerns that (the march) would be quite divided with reports that communists, nationalists, civilians and democrats would all be marching separately along this route, but...people are much more unified than that.

"That is the message they want to send out - that they are galvanised and strong enough to make an impact.

"With one month exactly to go until the presidential elections, all of these people want one thing and that is for free and fair elections."

Nearly 30,000 people signed up on Facebook to take part in the demonstration, but opposition leaders estimated up to 100,000 people had turned out.

It is the first mass rally to be held this year - exactly one month before the presidential elections which Mr Putin is expected to win.

Anti-Putin activist Ilya Klishin, who set up the Facebook page for the protests, told Sky News he saw the numbers joining the online group "drastically growing every hour with thousands and thousands of people".

However, he added that his father had consequently been questioned by Russian authorities about his son's whereabouts and activities.

Former Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov also spoke to Sky News, saying Putin had chosen the candidates himself and they were "candidates he wanted to be campaigning with him."

He added: "That is an artificial election and people will demand early elections...free and fair, both parliamentary and presidential...that is the main goal of these protests."

Opposition protesters have also organised smaller protests in other cities across the country - in St Petersburg around 5,000 people turned up to a rally.

However, up to 138,000 people have also joined a pro-Putin rally in Moscow, according to police.

There have been claims that teachers and hospital staff are being threatened or offered money to attend.

Organisers have denied the claims and say those who come to the gathering at Poklonnaya Gora War Memorial Park in Moscow will be doing so entirely of their own volition.

The rally has been called an "anti-Orange protest" - in reference to Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution that ousted its old order from power and infuriated the Kremlin.

Many of those attending brandished banners saying "Putin we are with you" and "No to the Orange plague".

In December, tens of thousands gathered in two separate mass protests.

They voiced anger at what they say were rigged elections which Mr Putin's party United Russia won with just under 50% of the vote.

Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the polls were slanted in favour of United Russia, citing apparent manipulations such as stuffing of ballot boxes.

Last week Mr Putin told Sky News that he was "not concerned" about recent protests calling for him to resign.