Rising chorus of boos greets Russia’s rulers / Court fines Russian election monitors / Russian opposition finds unlikely hero

Article reports in what is becoming an epidemic across Russia in the lead up to parliamentary elections in December 2011, the ruling elite are being booed and catcalled in public. The trend points to plunging faith in the Russian regime before both the parliamentary elections and ahead of a sensitive change in power in the spring of 2012 when Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will probably resume the Russian Presidency.

Other features preview the legislative elections in Russia on the 4 December 2011.

Spiegel Online International, 1.12.11: 'Putin Wants To Govern for the Rest of His Life' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,800546,00.html

Huffington Post, 3.12.11: Golos Head, Russia Election Watchdog, Detained http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/03/golos-head-detained_n_1126993.html?ref=world

BBC News, 3.12.11: Russian election monitor chief held for 'several hours' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16016733

ESO: Background information: Putin's return poses questions for EU strategy http://www.europeansources.info/record/putins-return-poses-questions-for-eu-strategy/

ESO: Background information: Putin to return as Russian president http://www.europeansources.info/record/putin-to-return-as-russian-president/

ESO: Background information: Russian legislative election, 2011 http://www.europeansources.info/record/russian-legislative-election-2011-2/

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