普京支持者将举行集会

Thousands of supporters of Vladimir Putin are expected to march in Moscow to show Russia's PM has popular support ahead of March presidential elections.

俄罗斯三月总统选举前夕，莫斯科将有数千普京的支持者举行示威活动，以此显示总理有强大的支持。

Mr Putin claims he enjoys support across Russia
Organisers say up to 100,000 people will take part in the rally, which will end up at the Luzhniki stadium.

It follows recent large opposition¹ protests against alleged² vote-rigging during December's parliamentary poll.

Mr Putin - who is widely expected to win the presidential race - denies the allegations.

The pro-Putin rally will use the motto "Defend the country" on Russia's annual Day of the Defenders³ of the Fatherland.

"The aim of the action is to express approval for the current political course and give a rebuff（断然拒绝） to forces who want to break down the country," the organisers were quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

Protesters campaigning for fair elections surprised everyone with three large rallies in the Russian capital in December and February, the BBC's Daniel Sandford in Moscow reports.

Since then the Russian government has been keen to show that it still commands wide support in the country, our correspondent says.

He adds that Mr Putin remains⁴ the most popular politician in Russia, but critics say that is only because the prime minister has created a system that denies true opposition voices any access to elections or the main TV networks.