Interior Ministry officers detain an opposition activist during a protest rally to defend Article 31 of the Russian constitution, which guarantees the right of assembly, in Moscow May 31, 2013. Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters
Russian Communists Party supporters hold Communist Party flags, as they protest against increasing of prices for communal services, in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 22, 2012. Mikhail Metzel/AP
Opposition demonstrators hold posters of imprisoned protesters during a major protest rally in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, Russia, Monday May 6, 2013. The rally marks the one-year anniversary of a protest on the eve of Putin’s inauguration that ended in clashes between police and demonstrators. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
A man holds a sign that reads 'Freedom of prisoners of Bolotnoy' during a protest rally in the Russian Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, May 6, 2013. Russian protestors unfurled a huge banner demanding the release of "political prisoners" on Monday, at the start of a day of protest against President Vladimir Putin intended to revive their flagging opposition movement. Ilya Naymushin/Reuters
An activist from the Left Front opposition party holds a sign with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during a rally demanding the release of political prisoners in St. Petersburg March 31, 2013. The sign reads, 'Those born to crawl will never fly.' Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters
Activists from left wing political and nationalist parties march during a protest against capitalism in Moscow September 9, 2012. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Russian opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov arrives at an unauthorized rally in Lubyanka Square in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 15, 2012. Thousands of opposition supporters gathered to mark a year of massive protests against Vladimir Putin and the government. Misha Japaridze/AP
Activists wear masks in support of members of the female punk band Pussy Riot and hold banners depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a protest in front of the Russian delegation to the European Union in Brussels August 17, 2012. Francois Lenoir/Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin seen on television screens in a shop as he answers questions during an online conference in Moscow, July 6, 2006. President Vladimir Putin answered questions from Russian and foreign Web surfers during a live Internet conference, part of a charm offensive ahead of a Group of Eight Industrialized nations summit in Russia. Misha Japaridze/AP
Demonstrators hold a protest rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Dec. 15, 2012. About a thousand opposition supporters held a rally to mark the anniversary of mass protest. Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
Protesters hold a poster depicting Russia's President Vladimir Putin as they march during a protest rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Sept. 15, 2012. The sign reads: "Prices, tariffs and poverty rise, you chose all this". Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A boy kicks the ball into the goal with an effigy depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin as a goalkeeper during an opposition rally 'For Russia without Putin!' in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 12, 2012. Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
A man holds a portrait of Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a rally to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections and the policies conducted by current Russian authorities in Russia's southern city of Stavropol, December 18, 2011. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's approval rating has dropped to its lowest level of the year in the first opinion poll published since his ruling party suffered an election setback and he faced the biggest protests of his 12-year rule. Eduard Korniyenko/Reuters
A protester stands during a rally in downtown St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 10. The sign reads 'No vote.' More than 10,000 people have protested in St. Petersburg against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his party, which won the largest share of a parliamentary election that observers say was rigged. Dmitry Lovetsky/AP
The wax figures of Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (l.), former St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak (c.) and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev are seen at a wax museum in St. Petersburg, February 8, 2012. Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters
The new organization, which experts say is likely modeled on East Germany's National Front, gives Putin a grassroots extra-parliamentary machine aimed at consolidating his popularity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has joined a political organization for the first time since he ditched his Communist Party membership 22 years ago.
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