Tens of thousands of Russians turned out in central Moscow and across the country Saturday to protest what they believe were rigged parliamentary elections . United Russia , the party of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin , suffered big losses in the election , but retained its parliamentary majority . On Saturday , protesters chanted `` Putin out , '' according to a correspondent from state-run RIA Novosti news agency . Between 20,000 and 25,000 protesters had gathered in the capital , Moscow , Ria Novosti said Saturday , citing police . There have been no reports of unrest and security has been tight . iReport photos : Thousands of protesters in Moscow . Vladimir Ryzhkov , co-chairman of the Party of People 's Freedom , said 40,000 people had massed and some 10,000 were headed to the main protest venue , the news agency reported . Rally organizers and Moscow city officials agreed to allow demonstrators on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow Saturday . The event has been authorized to hold 30,000 people , yet tens of thousands more have indicated that they want to attend . The protesters are demanding an annulment of the December 4 election results and a new vote . Election officials on Friday released the official results : 238 seats for United Russia ; 92 seats for the Communists ; 64 seats for Fair Russia ; and 56 seats for the Liberal Democrats . Protesters say that these results are fraudulent . Putin said Russians have the right to assemble peacefully and legally . Hundreds of protesters were arrested during demonstrations earlier this week . Police said they cracked down on those demonstrations because the turnouts were not legal and the protesters were being disorderly . Demonstrators turned out in other parts of the country . RIA Novosti correspondents said around 1,000 people ralled in the southern Siberian city of Barnaul . Protests occurred in Krasnoyarsk , Vladivostok , Chita and Khabarovsk in eastern Russia . A demonstration also was planned for St. Petersburg , Russia 's second largest city .
Protests are taking place in Russia and other cities . Demonstrators think the parliamentary vote was rigged . Vladimir Ryzhkov United Russia retained its majority . 25,000 to 20,000 people turn out for protest in United Russia , police say .