Protests in Russia as Observers Slam Vote Declaring Putin Victory

Vladimir Putin has ruled the world’s largest country since 1999, far longer than anyone since Brezhnev.  He was widely expected to win elections, and he did.  Official returns say he won more than 63% of Sunday’s vote, but the opposition and independent poll observers say the vote was marred by widespread fraud.  On Monday, thousands protested in Moscow with reports of arrests in St. Petersburg.

Read more about the protests on Al Jazeera and about allegations of election fraud on CNN.