Protest in Moscow against constitutional change

Hundreds of Russians gathered in Moscow on Saturday to demonstrate against Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional changes.

Putin raised the idea of constitutional amendments last month, and Russian lawmakers quickly gave tentative approval to his proposals for granting extra powers to parliament, while maintaining a strong presidential authority.

However, the Russian leader's proposed amendments have been widely seen as an effort to extend his grip on power after his current presidential term ends in 2024.

In contrast to the large-scale street protests of 2011, which protested Putin's return to power, there has been little public opposition to the proposed plans.

On Saturday, protesters from across the political spectrum - from ultra-nationalists, former separatists in Donbass and guns rights activists, to Communists and left-wing activists - turned out to voice their dissatisfaction.

When Igor Strelkov, a former separatist commander in the Donbass war, took to the stage he said: "That which our government is now offering is a scam of con artists who continue to trick the Russian people, and they plan to do it forever."

Many demonstrators feel the Russian constitution is under threat. Some believe that the system itself needs to change, rather than the president. Others think that Putin needs to go.

"The constitution is not the president's personal thing," said Muscovite Kirill Boridin. "It's something that belongs to the Russian people, and not personally to the president. It is not his personal item. It's not his shirt and he doesn't have the right to make his amendments to it."

(Image Credit: AP)