Vladimir Putin still has the support of a majority of Russians, his spokesman said Sunday, December 25 after a mass protest challenged the premier's authority two months before he stands in presidential polls.

Organizers said 120,000 people attended the rally in central Moscow Saturday where protesters chanted slogans against Prime Minister Putin and called for the annulment of disputed December parliamentary elections won by his party. "As a politician and a presidential candidate, Putin still has the support of a majority. And we should treat the opinion of a majority with respect," his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

He added that Putin was "beyond competition" as a candidate in March 4, 2012 presidential polls, where the Russian strongman plans to stand for a third Kremlin term after his four-year stint as Prime Minister.

Peskov acknowledged the protest had taken place and said the demonstrators' position was to be treated with respect. "Those people who came out onto the streets -- they are a very important part of society. But they are a minority,” AFP reported.