Russians protest against Putin

How many of them fear he is the Antichrist?

About 4,000 protesters braved biting cold to hold an unauthorized rally at a huge Lenin monument in Arkhangelsk's main square, chanting: "Down with this useless state power" and "Down with United Russia."

"We do not believe the authorities" and "We demand a pay rise," read some of the posters. Red hammer-and-sickle Communist Party flags dominated the scene.

The large rally was similar to recent protests held in Vladivostok in Russia's far east and in Kaliningrad in the west.

Demands by protesters across Russia vary from lower household bills to the abolition of transport taxes, lower imported car duties and demands to halt a paper mill at the pristine Lake Baikal.

/ / /