"We have gathered at the embassy of the United States today in order to congratulate the new U.S. president, Barack Obama, with his inauguration," Mestnye leader Sergei Fateyev said. "We hope that this unusual president has a sober view of Russia that has today returned its status as a world power."
The young activists carried banners urging "Obama - be human" and "play by the rules." One group member donned a pig costume and a George Bush mask to symbolize the Bush administration's policies towards Russia.
Holding a banner reading "Make up for Bush on Iraq, avoid the same mistakes, Barack!" the youth group also expressed their hopes that "President Obama will not follow a policy of double standards and will see Russia as a serious and equal partner."
"We hope that the president who is inaugurated today will nonetheless be different, and if not, then he can join those animals," Fateyev said, pointing to the person dressed as a pig.
Over 11,000 U.S. troops and 8,000 police are expected to be on hand to ensure security as the United State's first black president takes his oath of office later on Tuesday.
Estimates have put the number of visitors expected to travel Washington for the inauguration as up to three million, far exceeding the current record of 1.2 million people who lined the Mall for Lyndon B. Johnson's inaugural parade in 1965.
