Thousands of Russians have linked hands to form a human chain encircling central Moscow to protest Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's likely return as president in next weekend's election.
The protesters stood side-by-side Sunday around the 16-kilometer Moscow Garden Ring Road, many of them wearing white ribbons that have come to symbolize the biggest opposition protests since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Mr. Putin became prime minister after serving as president from 2000 to 2008. This past September, he announced he planned to run for president again in the March 4 election, swapping places with current President Dmitry Medvedev.
The Garden Ring was the scene of protests on two previous Sundays, when hundreds of people drove cars decorated with white ribbons and balloons.