Several thousand people took to the streets across Russia today to protest a hugely unpopular government decision to hike the pension age that has led to a record slump in Vladimir Putin's approval ratings.
In a rare show of widespread public opposition to a government proposal, both Kremlin-friendly trade unions and political parties and Putin's top critic Alexei Navalny organised protest rallies in dozens of cities.
Analysts say that growing popular discontent over the reform amid plunging living standards may present the most serious challenge to Putin during his nearly 20 years in power.
"Let's be honest: the state pension hike masterminded by Putin and (Prime Minister Dmitry) Medvedev is a true crime," Navalny said on Instagram ahead of the rallies.
"It is common robbery of tens of millions of people under the guise of 'much-needed reform."