Russia’s opposition movement will become a real political force when it makes "desirable" proposals on the future development of the country, Russian Prime Minister and president-elect Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday.
“They will become a real political force when they are able to come up with proposals on the future development of the country and prove that their proposals are desirable,” he said.
Thousands of demonstrators rallied on Pushkinskaya Square in downtown Moscow on Monday evening to denounce Putin's victory at the presidential polls on Sunday as illegitimate, while thousands of Putin supporters gathered near Red Square to celebrate.
The police behaved appropriately at the recent rallies in Moscow, even though many protesters were trying their best to get roughed up, Putin said.
“The police acted professionally. They did not beat anybody, did not apply special force.”
Emotions have been running high in Moscow ahead of the presidential poll with police beefing up security. Putin has spoken of possible provocations from the opposition, speculating that they may seek to kill a "sacrificial victim" and then blame it on the government.
