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1TASS_2268918.jpg[break]Thousands rally in Moscow to demand that the results of the 2011 State Duma elections be cancelled and Vladimir Churov, head of Central Election Commission, be dismissed.[break]Itar Tass [break_string]2IMG_9450.jpg[break]Even though it was saturday, metro was as much overcrowded as on working days.[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]3IMG_9481.jpg[break]The Dec. 24 demonstration on Academic Sakharov Boulevard in Moscow showed that the number of Russians interested in participating in civil society is growing.[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]4IMG_0229.jpg[break]More than 60,000 Internet users indicated an interest in participating in the civil action to support “fair elections.”[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]4RIAN_01008747HRru.jpg[break]The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.[break]RIA Novosti [break_string]5IMG_9462.jpg[break]Mouth sticker: It's not possible to keep silence anymore.[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]6IMG_1157.jpg[break]Poster: We didn't choose you[break]Tatiana Shramchenko [break_string]7IMG_4826.jpg[break]The number of people who actually attended was up for debate.[break]Kirill Rudenko [break_string]8IMG_5053.jpg[break]Official figures numbered the protestors at 29,000 while organizers claimed that 120,000 came out on Academic Sakharov Boulevard.[break]Kirill Rudenko [break_string]9IMG_9543.jpg[break]Although the actual number of attendees may never be known, it was clear that these protests attracted more people than the previous ones on Dec. 5-7. [break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]10Reuters_VP_kudrin-1000.jpg[break]Former finance minister Alexei Kudrin addressed a mass demonstration against recent elections but called on participants to pursue their demands for political change in an organized way and steer well clear of "revolution."[break]Reuters / VostockPhoto [break_string]11RIAN_01008586HRru.jpg[break]Yet despite the crowds, the demonstrations were peaceful, and there were no arrests. [break]RIA Novosti [break_string]12RIAN_01008668HRru.jpg[break]White ribbon is a symbol of Russian Protest Movement[break]RIA Novosti [break_string]14IMG_9593.jpg[break]Asked about white ribbons Vladimir Putin compared them to condoms[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]15IMG_0116.jpg[break]Poster (left): PU, be aware, banderlogs are here"
Poster (right): We don't need a used president[break]Ruslan Sukhushin [break_string]16IMG_5233.jpg[break]Some participants argued that the rally was so calm because the attendees were a mix of journalists, professors, students, musicians and businessmen. [break]Kirill Rudenko [break_string]17IMG_0192.jpg[break]Others attributed the lack of violence to the fact that the protest area was extremely overcrowded and it was tremendously difficult to get through the crowd.[break]Ruslan Sukhushin