Around 3,000 Russian opposition supporters took part in a protest against president-elect Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday, the anti-government internet portal kasparov.ru reported, according to dpa. Marching under the slogan "Third term - in jail," the protesters chanted "Putin is a thief" and "Putin in the dock," as they made their way through the city where he was born. Police put the number of protesters at 800. In Moscow, opposition leaders announced that rallies and other events would take place at the end of April. According to kasparov.ru, former deputy premier Boris Nemtsov said a "freedom festival" would take place in the capital on May 1. Putin, who currently holds the post of prime minister, won presidential elections on March 4, in a vote the opposition said was marred by fraud. Independent election observer group Golos reported that close to 3,000 violations had taken place during the vote. He previously served two consecutive terms as president from 2000 to 2008.
