Russian protests

Tens of thousands of Russians have braved frigid temperatures in Moscow and St. Petersburg in recent days to peacefully protest against Vladimir Putin’s rule.

Prime Minister Putin is running for a six-year term as president in March 6 elections.

Mr. Putin was president from 2000 to 2008 and was forbidden by the Russian Constitution to run for a third consecutive four-year term. Thus, he arranged to have his protege Dmitry Medvedev run for office while he filled the prime minister slot. Now Mr. Putin can run for president again.

While in power, Mr. Putin has weakened his political opposition. Protesters contend that Mr. Putin’s opponents have no chance against him because state-run media will not cover their campaigns.

As for election officials: the head of the country’s election bureau, Vladimir Churov, once said: “My first rule is that Putin is always right.”

Under Mr. Putin’s leadership, living standards have improved but he is stifling democracy and encouraging corruption.

Student Oleg Stepanov told USA Today: “Things simply can’t go on like this. The lies, the corruption, the paranoia about the West.”

International observers said last December’s parliamentary elections in Russia were rife with vote fraud. But Mr. Putin blames the West for allegedly fomenting unrest in the country. The Russian government accuses protesters of starting an “Orange Revolution” in Russia, similar to the one in Ukraine a few years ago.

Russia recently came in 143 out of 182 countries in Transparency International’s 2011 corruption index. Investors at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland recently criticized the country’s oppression, bribery and corruption.

Mr. Putin is expected to win the presidency in March, but Russian protesters say they will continue marching for change. Last Saturday’s march in Moscow numbered 120,000 people.