A major test is ahead for Vladmir Putin's government as protestors will gather in 80 cities in Russia over the weekend to protest the recent parliamentary elections that many observers and most Russians believe was rigged. Guardian: More than 16,700 people indicated on Facebook their intention to gather in Revolution Square, a stone's throw from the Kremlin, this Saturday. Another 5,500 said they would attend a similar protest in St Petersburg. Protests were also being organised in more than 80 cities across Russia, including the Urals city of Yekaterinburg and the Siberian city of Surgut. But there was growing fear that the Russian authorities would step up their action against protesters. Yevgenia Chirikova, an environmental activist turned opposition leader, said she feared the Kremlin would move beyond the haphazard arrests and the deployment of pro-Kremlin youth groups that have so far marked its response to the protests. She noted that the government had recently approved a pay...(Read Full Post)