MOSCOW — After more than three weeks of public protests over fraud allegations in Russia’s parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has made clear that he will not accede to one of the principal demands of demonstrators. There will be no re-vote, he said Tuesday, in televised remarks. Putin, who is seeking a return to the presidency in March elections, also lashed out at leaders of the ongoing protests, saying they “display their weakness by resorting to insults.”
Yet despite Putin’s tough rhetoric, the Kremlin continues to make concessions to the opposition. On Tuesday, Vladislav Surkov, one of the main targets of the opposition’s anger, was transferred from his key position on the presidential staff to a government post as vice premier in charge of modernization.
Denver Post wire services
