Putin tells opposition to take poll complaints to courts

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the opposition should turn to the courts with their allegations of vote fraud during the December 4 parliamentary polls. He said that recounts had already taken place at several polling stations in St. Petersburg, but that once the final count was in, the courts were the only place to contest the results. Russia was hit by the largest anti-government rallies for some two decades last week, as tens of thousands took to the streets to protest alleged electoral fraud in favor of Putin’s United Russia party. He also said that people had the right to protest, as long as the demonstrations remained within the law and did not contribute to a “destabilization” of the country.