Putin Says Opposition Has No Clear Program Or Leader

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has criticized opposition attempts to "delegitimize" the results of elections to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, earlier this month.

Putin was responding to the December 24 nationwide rallies where tens of thousands of people and opposition groups came out to protest, claiming the December 4 poll was characterized by violations that favored Putin's United Russia party.

Putin said the opposition does not have a unified program and that while opposition groups complain they do not offer any solutions.

Putin also said Russia's opposition lacks "people who would be able to do anything concrete."

compiled from agency reports