RAW, Russia Protesters Attack Riot Police During Demo Against Alleged Electoral Fraud, Moscow
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Less than three months ago, Mr Putin looked in total control.
On 24 September, when the Russian prime minister announced his intention to run again for president, few Russians doubted he would win.
The Kremlin's system of "managed democracy" had pushed opponents to the fringes of Russian politics; TV coverage of Putin was all positive; December's Duma elections were going to be little more than a distraction on the way to Mr Putin returning triumphantly to the Kremlin, possibly for the next 12 years.
Suddenly, Vladimir Putin is looking weaker than at any time in his political career.
Even before the parliamentary elections, there were signs his popularity was fading. Last month when Mr Putin put in an appearance at a martial arts fight he was booed by the crowd. His aides dismissed the incident, denying that the catcalls had been directed at their boss.
But they cannot deny that Vladimir Putin has had an awful week.
First, his party United Russia barely scraped a majority in the parliamentary elections, despite widespread reports of vote-rigging in its favour. The election was criticised by Russian and international observers for being neither free nor fair. The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described it as "flawed".
Then came the street protests.
Last Monday, thousands of Muscovites demanded the election results be annulled and a new election held. There were cries of "Putin Resign!"
This weekend, tens of thousands of protesters in the centre of Moscow voiced the same demands. It was the biggest anti-government rally in Moscow since the fall of communism. And there were smaller protests in dozens of other cities across the country
On 24 September, when the Russian prime minister announced his intention to run again for president, few Russians doubted he would win.
The Kremlin's system of "managed democracy" had pushed opponents to the fringes of Russian politics; TV coverage of Putin was all positive; December's Duma elections were going to be little more than a distraction on the way to Mr Putin returning triumphantly to the Kremlin, possibly for the next 12 years.
Suddenly, Vladimir Putin is looking weaker than at any time in his political career.
Even before the parliamentary elections, there were signs his popularity was fading. Last month when Mr Putin put in an appearance at a martial arts fight he was booed by the crowd. His aides dismissed the incident, denying that the catcalls had been directed at their boss.
But they cannot deny that Vladimir Putin has had an awful week.
First, his party United Russia barely scraped a majority in the parliamentary elections, despite widespread reports of vote-rigging in its favour. The election was criticised by Russian and international observers for being neither free nor fair. The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described it as "flawed".
Then came the street protests.
Last Monday, thousands of Muscovites demanded the election results be annulled and a new election held. There were cries of "Putin Resign!"
This weekend, tens of thousands of protesters in the centre of Moscow voiced the same demands. It was the biggest anti-government rally in Moscow since the fall of communism. And there were smaller protests in dozens of other cities across the country
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