Russia's opposition expressed concerns on Tuesday that Vladimir Putin may resort to using force to suppress their protests following the detention of hundreds of demonstrators challenging his election victory. Despite months of peaceful protests, over 500 people, including opposition leaders, were taken into custody by riot police during unsanctioned protests in Moscow and St Petersburg. This crackdown indicates Putin's waning tolerance for demands for democracy and political reforms. Opposition leaders like Boris Nemtsov and novelist Boris Akunin fear that future rallies will also be met with force. He stated that there is no point in organizing any peaceful marches or rallies as it will only provoke aggression from the authorities. The police claimed that their actions were lawful, and Putin's spokesperson defended their intervention, stating that the police acted professionally and within the boundaries of the law during both legal and illegal opposition activities. After serving as prime minister for four years, Putin was re-elected as president after winning nearly 64 percent of the votes in Sunday's election. He previously held the presidency from 2000 to 2008. Despite some officers forcibly removing protesters, there was a sense of restraint in order to prevent criticism of Putin as a dictator. While some protesters were injured, police tried to minimize casualties at the main protest on Pushkin Square in Moscow. Harsher tactics were reportedly used against a group attempting to protest at Lubyanka Square, in front of the Federal Security Service headquarters. Protesters were forcefully removed in St. Petersburg, Putin's hometown, raising concerns among foreign investors about potential clashes between police and protesters. This could harm the investment climate and hinder reforms needed to reduce Russia's dependence on energy exports. Russian stocks experienced a significant drop after Fitch warned of potential confrontation, with both dollar-based and rouble-traded indexes falling by more than 3 percent. Critics allege that Putin only allows controlled protests to appease urban demonstrators frustrated with his long rule. He could also make some conciliatory gestures to satisfy the opposition. As an example, the Kremlin has initiated a review of 32 criminal cases, including the imprisonment of former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the denial of registration to a liberal opposition group that has been excluded from elections. However, Putin, a former KGB agent, will make every effort to stop what he sees as more radical protesters from challenging his third term as president. He will handle dissent harshly. "We witnessed the dictator's fear in his eyes." At the rally at Pushkin Square, opposition leader Ilya Yashin observed vulnerability and uncertainty in a man, referring to Putin shedding a tear during his victory speech on Sunday. Yashin questioned the presence of troops and riot police in the capital, wondering if a war had started. The US ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, expressed concern about the arrests and emphasized the importance of freedom of assembly and speech, which are universal values. The Russian Foreign Ministry responded with a tweet, criticizing McFaul and stating that Russian police had shown more restraint than US officers handling anti-capitalist protesters. The United States and several European countries are calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into allegations of voting irregularities in the recent election. While some improvements were noted compared to the previous parliamentary poll, international observers still believe the election was unfair and heavily biased towards Putin. Despite criticisms from some observers, Russia's Foreign Ministry found the report to be balanced overall. However, many Russians have become disillusioned with the electoral process and Putin's leadership. "I used to admire Putin, similar to any woman who appreciates a charming man. However, I now believe he is becoming senile. No one can remain in authority indefinitely," commented Vasilisa Maslova, a 35-year-old fashion trade worker, at Pushkin Square.