People rally to support Russian presidential candidate, and current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on Feb. 23, 2012
The country’s March 4 presidential election will almost certainly herald Vladimir Putin’s return to the pinnacle of Russian power. Although he faces a serious challenge from Communist Party candidate Gennady Zyuganov, the result is a foregone conclusion. In the latest issue of TIME, Simon Shuster predicts the Prime Minister will rely on the continued support of Russia’s heartland and anti-U.S. rhetoric to claim victory. However, recent mass protests and an anticipated decline in support suggest the result could still prove embarrassing for Putin — and cast a shadow over the first of two planned terms back at the Kremlin.