1,000 Rally in central Moscow by the Russian Road Transport Trade Union

The event was held across the Moscow River from the White House and was one of this year's biggest manifestations of discontent over rising prices. OMON riot police and Interior Ministry forces were out in force for the protest, which lasted about an hour.

Among the protesters' demands, listed in a letter to the government, was state regulation of fuel prices, which the demonstrators said were artificially raised by oil companies, including state-controlled Rosneft.

Average gasoline prices have increased by more than 20 percent since the beginning of 2008, while diesel fuel has risen by 30 percent, according to the State Statistics Service. As for aviation-fuel prices, they have risen 50 percent in Russia this year, leading to canceled flights and a state bailout of airline alliance AiRUnion.

Unexpectedly fast consumer-price growth forced the government last month to revise its annual inflation estimate to 11.8 percent, from the previous 10.5 percent. However it's not enough.

"An oil-rich country like Russia should make monopolists responsible for collusion and the endless rise of fuel prices, which are threatening the survival of many other industries," Viktor Mokhnachyov, president of the Russian Road Transport Trade Union, said from the stage as the crowd cheered and waved miniature flags with the slogan "No to Outrageous Fuel Prices!"

This is not the first protest for the Russian Road Transport Trade Union. Mokhnachyov, the group's leader, organized a demonstration against rising gasoline prices in 2005, which led to no visible results.

Smaller events were held in cities across the country, including in St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg and Kaliningrad, organizers said.

This time if the government does not move to address the complaints, another "more serious" demonstration will be held Oct. 7.