Vladimir Putin has been facing protests and political opposition in Moscow ahead of Sunday's elections, but how far has dissent spread outside of the capital?

Bridget Kendall reports from the city of Tomsk in central Siberia that the political mood away from the capital is far from anti-Putin.

Andrey Pozdnyakov, organiser of an anti-government protest in the city, told her that despite the small turnout, it was "impossible to think this would happen a year ago".

Many are not convinced that change is necessary. "Either a country is stable or it is not," state TV broadcaster Alexander Chenyak told her. "I'd rather the power at the top changed as little as possible."

However, the demands for change will not go away, according to TV2 editor-in-chief Viktor Muchnik. "You can't put the toothpaste back in the tube," he said.

Get in touch with Today via email , Twitter or Facebook or text us on 84844.