LINK CHANGE/ RIAN NOVESTI
After an election day marred by hackers attacking websites of Echo Moskvi, the leading independent radio station, independent observer GOLOS...and others with denial of service attacks...about 5,00o-10,000 protested in Moscow...shouting 'Russia without Putin'.
It was the biggest protest in Moscow in years.
Some 300, mostly young people, were arrested.
As predicted...voters dealt PM Putin's party a setback in the parliament...with only about 50% support vs 64% in 2007...and a loss of 77 seats.
Experts are calling these electoral results a major 'loss of face' for Putin...and underline his declining popularity.
TO READ: about election results and rash of violations:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/05/us-russia-election-violations-idUSTRE7B429Z20111205
