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PUTING (Russian: путинг, putin + meeting) is a word born probably after the Poklonnaya Hill meeting in Moscow of prime minister Vladimir Putin supporters for 3rd non-consecutive presidential term at March 4, 2012 presidential election in Russia.

Puting is a meeting to counter Russian opposition meetings of there were a few after December 4, 2011 Russian parliamentary elections. The opposition objected to the results of the elections which paved the way for Vladimir Putin’s 3rd non-consecutive presidential term.

Puting is a meeting that is allegedly not voluntary, arranged with extensive use of ‘administrative resource’. Since Putin’s level of support in Moscow, the capital, proved to be considerably lower than in Russia on the whole, the organizer of putings delivered masses of participants (‘anchovies’, as termed by Yu. Latynina) in busloads from other Russian cities as far as from Bashkiria. That was apparent by the buses’ license plates.

There are allegations that the participants were the students, utility workers, education and social workers, all who depend for salary and jobs on local administrations. Some noted that while the participants were marching, police prevented them from straying from the column. There are reports unconfirmed so far that some putting participants were offered bonuses and days-off, as well as up to 800 Rubles (US$25) in cash.

Yu. Latynina noted that while the opposition meetings attracted many distinguished persons, the authorized representatives of V. Putin, among which there also many distinguished persons, did not show up at any of the putings.

Number of participants at putings is not disputed by the opposition and was: Poklonnaya Hill, February 4 – 87-90 thousand participants Luzhniki Stadium, 25 February – 130 thousand participants