Thousands of protestors today filled a square in central Moscow to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin one year into his new Kremlin term, as the opposition seeks to recover the momentum of their challenge to his rule.
Organisers said thousands attended the rally, which marks one year since a chaotic May 6, 2012 anti-Kremlin protest that descended into violence, and Putin's return to the presidency a day later. Police estimated the numbers at 7,000.
The long-awaited protest was however clouded by the death of a worker earlier today when he was crushed to death by a massive loudspeaker as he was helping to erect the stage for the event.
"The whole square is full. There are tens of thousands of us," former government member turned Putin critic Boris Nemtsov, clutching a bunch of white roses, told the rally.
Anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny, who is standing trial on what he says are trumped-up charges, joined a host of prominent Russians at the rally, including actors.
Navalny, who faces up to 10 years in prison on charges of embezzling half-a-million dollars in a timber deal, said before the start of the rally that Russians should not remain indifferent to the future of the country.
Today's rally marked the protests on the eve of Putin's inauguration for a historic third presidential term that led to more than 400 arrests after scuffles with riot police.
The opposition also hopes the latest rally will breathe new life into the sputtering protest movement following what observers say is the toughest crackdown on dissenters of Putin's 13 years in power.
More than two dozen people now face jail over their involvement in last year's rally in a criminal probe activists have condemned as a throwback to the Stalin era.
Prosecutors warned the opposition against any provocations including any attempts to hold a march through the city in addition to the rally.
In Russia's second city Saint Petersburg, some 500 people gathered in the city centre, some holding white balloons featuring Putin.
