European lawmakers say recent protests are an indication that Russia needs real political change, not a survival mechanism for its current leadership.

A delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe made the statement Saturday in Moscow while the leftist opposition rallied to demand fair presidential elections March 4.

Protesters waved red flags and carried banners saying “Russia without Putin” as they gathered near the Kremlin.

Council of Europe delegation leader, Dutch lawmaker Tiny Kox warned that nationwide protests since December legislative elections should be a wake-up call for Russia. He said the country required an urgent reform of its electoral system and an impartial referee to guarantee fairness.

The group, which observed the controversial elections, is set to present its final report Monday at a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Russia's Central Election Commission dismissed the European delegation's comments as “completely politicized” and accused the mission of overstepping its responsibilities.

Russians have been protesting since the December 4 vote, which handed ruling party United Russia, a majority in the lower house of parliament or Duma, claiming the vote was rigged. The country's political system has been dominated for more than a decade by Vladimir Putin.

Mr. Putin, a former president who is currently serving as prime minister, plans to run in the upcoming presidential election and is expected to win. Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov claims that the prime minister does not enjoy majority support in Russia.

“Putin says that his team will win in the first round (of March 2012 presidential election). It is impossible, they would need to cheat twice as much as they did in December (2011 parliamentary elections).”

Mr. Putin says the protests are sponsored by foreign countries, especially the United States, and that the majority of Russians support the government.

Russian investigators said Saturday morning that they had opened 26 criminal cases into possible December election violations, promising to conduct a thorough and objective probe.

The next mass rally has been scheduled for February 4, one month before the presidential vote.