Putin returns as Russia's president amid protests May 7, 2012 -- Updated 0756 GMT (1556 HKT) Vladimir Putin has dominated Russian politics for a decade He won controversial presidential elections in March amid allegations of fraud Protests chanted "Russia without Putin" in Moscow on Sunday About 250 were arrested, including opposition leaders and a popular blogger Moscow (CNN) -- Vladimir Putin, who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade, returns to the presidency Monday after winning a controversial election in March. The inauguration comes a day after hundreds of people, including opposition leaders and a popular blogger, were arrested in anti-Putin protests. As they marched, many chanted slogans such as "Russia without Putin" and "Putin is a thief." Putin won the March presidential election with nearly 65% of the vote, claiming victory despite accusations from independent monitors that there had been widespread electoral violations. International observers said there was legitimate uncertainty about the vote, and chess champion-turned opposition activist Garry Kasparov accused Putin's supporters of "massive fraud." Putin, the former KGB officer who has worked to stabilize Russia's economy and curtail dissent, held the presidency for eight years before term limits forced him to step down in 2008. He then became prime minister under his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev, who announced he would not run for a second tern, Putin's election followed a series of unprecedented anti-Kremlin protests in the wake of disputed parliamentary elections in December. Sunday's protest turned violent when a large number of demonstrators veered off the agreed route of the march, and some protesters fought with police. One of its correspondents saw "a male protester out cold after clashing with officers," while another reported eight officers arresting one demonstrator "for the apparent crime of wearing a Guy Fawkes mask," the symbol of the vigilante hacking group Anonymous. More than 250 people were arrested, including leading opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, leftist radical group leader Sergei Udaltsov and popular blogger Alexei Navalny, Moscow police told CNN. Twenty officers were injured and three hospitalized in the clashes, according to RIA-Novosti. March 6, 2012 -- Updated 0227 GMT (1027 HKT) Vladimir Putin's victory seems certain, but what does his return mean for Russia and its relationship with the world? March 5, 2012 -- Updated 1217 GMT (2017 HKT) Profile of the former KGB agent who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade. February 21, 2012 -- Updated 1849 GMT (0249 HKT) Vladimir Putin's election campaign focuses on militarizing the Russian economy. February 27, 2012 -- Updated 1417 GMT (2217 HKT) Anti-corruption groups vow to field an army of volunteer monitors at Russian polling stations. February 28, 2012 -- Updated 1347 GMT (2147 HKT) CNN's Phil Black investigates the mood in rural Russia ahead of the presidential election on Sunday. March 2, 2012 -- Updated 1023 GMT (1823 HKT) Russians go to the polls on Sunday March 4 to elect a new president. Who is running and what will the poll mean for Russia? February 29, 2012 -- Updated 1357 GMT (2157 HKT) Phil Black explains why Vladimir Putin could take over as leader of a country that has changed dramatically March 2, 2012 -- Updated 1726 GMT (0126 HKT) Phil Black meets Alexei Navalny, who has emerged as one of the most charismatic leaders of Russia's opposition movement. March 1, 2012 -- Updated 1415 GMT (2215 HKT) The Communist Party still has strong support, but CNN's Phil Black reports it's struggling to prevent another Putin term. September 26, 2011 -- Updated 1455 GMT (2255 HKT) The announcement that Vladimir Putin will, if elected as president, appoint incumbent Dmitri Medvedev as PM brings to mind one of the most famous lines of Italian literature.