Rallies in support of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who will run for president on March 4, were held in many Russian cities on Saturday, Feb 18.

About 60,000 Mr. Putin’s supporters gathered by the Oktyabrskiy concert hall in St. Petersburg. They are calling on Russians to vote for Mr. Putin, as they believe that his presidency would guarantee stability and prosperity.

“Russia doesn’t need new revolutions!”, they are saying.

Opponents of Mr. Putin have also come to this rally, carrying slogans criticizing his policy. However, no incidents have been reported during the rally.

In Saratov, a city located on the Volga River, 10,000 people gathered under the motto “A great country needs a strong leader”, referring to Mr. Putin.

In the city of Smolensk, a rally in support of Mr. Putin coincided with celebrations of the 200th anniversary since Napoleon’s defeat in 1812, in which Smolensk played a big role. A slogan “Smolensk is the shield of Russia” was displayed in he city’s central square, which gathered 5,000 people, The Voice of Russia reported.