Thousands protest in Moscow to revive Putin challenge Thousands of protestors filled a Moscow square Monday to denounce President Vladimir Putin a year into his new term and rekindle the momentum that was brutally quashed when a protest last year led to mass arrests. Organisers said tens of thousands turned up for the rally, which marked one year since a chaotic May 6, 2012 anti-Kremlin protest that descended into violence and Putin's return to the presidency a day later. Images and soundbites.