Protests in Russia

United Russia, the governing party of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, maintained its majority in the Duma in parliamentary elections on December 4 but lost the two-thirds majority it needs to change the constitution.

Protesters and international election observers have criticized the vote and accused United Russia of election fraud and manipulation.

In reaction to the poll, tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets to protest the alleged election fraud and demand an end to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's hold on power.

DW-WORLD.DE offers a closer look at a developing, flawed democracy in the world's former capital of communism.