On Monday the upper chamber of Russia's parliament, the Federation Council announced that the Russian presidential elections will be held on March 2.

For many months the election date was not known this being the first time when it has been officially announced.

The candidates must register between December 12 and January 16.

The announcement comes now as President Vladimir Putin faces accusations about his government crushing the democratic opposition.

On Saturday and Sunday riot police detained protesters in rallies held in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

At the democratic rally in Moscow, Gary Kasparov, opposition leader and former world chess champion, was also detained by police.

He was charged for organizing an unsanctioned procession, resisting arrest and chanting anti-government slogans. Kasparov was sentenced to five days to jail, CNN reports.   

The leader of Other Russia said that his detention is part of government’s plan to harass him.

Kasparov was also detained in April, and then fined, as he tried to lead a group of protesters through lines of police, in an anti-Putin protest.

Putin is seeking a third term as president of Russia, but this is against the Russian constitution. He repeatedly said that he will not contest the election.

Still, there are speculations in the Russian media that he plans to stand.

For the parliamentary elections, due on December 2, Putin is on the top list of the candidates for the Kremlin-allied United Russia party.

At a rally last week, Putin warned supporters of those "inside the country who count on support of foreign funds and governments, and not their own people." Apparently he was referring to opponents like Gary Kasparov.