Putin Says Will Not Permit Social Shocks to Weaken Russia

President Vladimir Putin vowed on Tuesday not to let Russia be weakened by social shocks as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Moscow to protest his historic third term.

"We cannot accept anything that weakens our country or divides society," he said in a televised address on the Russia Day national holiday.

"We cannot tolerate decisions and actions capable of leading to social and economic shocks."

Putin's Kremlin appearance came as thousands of mostly youthful demonstrators joined the first major Moscow protest since his May 7 swearing in ceremony.

One event organizer put attendance at the so-called March of Millions at more than 100,000 while the city's police department counted just 18,000 participants.

Aerial television footage of the main rally suggested a figure of at least double that quoted by police.

The march came a day after the homes of its leaders were raided in a police crackdown that was condemned by Washington and sparked concerns of a new bid by the former KGB agent Putin to turn back the clock on past reforms.

Putin never referred to the protests directly in his comments on Tuesday in which he explained his views on Russia's place in the political transformations now gripping many nations across the world.

He suggested that he would be open to changes as long as they were cautious and well thought though.

"We see the profound transformations now happening in the modern world," Putin said. "Russia must assume a dignified position in these processes. It should be receptive to everything new and advanced.

"But this should be done based on our accumulated experience of stability," he said, using a word that defined his election campaign.