Demonstrators took to the streets to protest Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s ruling party election results, in spite of over 250 arrests the previous day. Voters are protesting widespread electoral fraud, which they say is the reason Putin’s party remained in power, even with the number of seats significantly decreased. Thousands are expected to be in attendance for a demonstration Wednesday in Moscow.
Allegations of voting fraud increased as poll workers cited harassment on voting day. Olga Lazareva, a polling station official, found her apartment door glued shut a few hours before polls were scheduled to open. There were numerous reports of packets of ballots found folded together, a sign of ballot box stuffing. An analyst cautioned that the protesters may not be Russia’s “Arab Spring,” citing negative memories from the last government turnover.
