MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Middle class but disillusioned, Igor and Rina are typical of the new generation of Russian activists who cannot wait to join a protest on Saturday against strongman Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Like others from a host of members of Russia’s middle class – young, Internet-savvy, urban – Igor, 34, a small business co-owner, and Rina, 19, a journalism student, are ready to rally for hours despite sub-zero temperatures.

‘’I am not indifferent about my country’s destiny,’’ said Rina, denouncing widespread corruption in Russia, state-controlled media and alleged fraud during December 4’s parliamentary elections.

‘’If there are a million people in the Moscow streets, then things will start to change’’ in Russia, added Igor.

Won by the ruling United Russia party, the parliamentary elections were criticized by the opposition and international observers as fraudulent and sparked a protest movement unprecedented since Putin’s rise to power.

Putin’s decision to seek a third term as head of state in presidential elections on March 4 – after having served two terms in 2000-2008 – only added to protest sentiment already fuelled by what critics say is endemic corruption and a totalitarian political system.

Tens of thousands of Russians took to the streets in Moscow and other cities on December 10 and 24 to demand a repeat parliamentary vote and a ‘’Russia without Putin.’’ Another demonstration is planned for Saturday one month ahead of the presidential polls.

Organized through social networks, the protesters are chiefly young middle class people who profited from years of economic stability under Putin’s presidency.

The Russian media dubs them ‘’office plankton’’ – people who until recently have been active in relatively modest professional jobs, but quite inert when it came to civil society activities.

But now they have risen to the surface and are challenging the authorities as foreign travel gives them a wider perspective and the Internet allows them to discover and even expose the extent of abuses by officials. ‘’I want people to stop being afraid to go to rallies... I want this to become a necessity for everyone,’’ said Rina, who calls herself an ‘’active citizen.’’

Igor, a co-owner of a small technology company of 30 employees, participated for the first time in his life in a rally on December 10 at Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square.

‘’I felt great pride, a sense of unity never felt before,’’ he said with a smile.

Apart from the alleged electoral fraud, Igor’s political awakening was sparled by Putin’s announced return to the Kremlin in the March 4 elections, which theoretically allows him to stay in power for another 12 years.