MOSCOW, January 27 - RAPSI. Investigative authorities have initiated 36 criminal cases on violations committed during the recent State Duma elections, Investigative Committee head Alexander Bastrykin said on Friday while speaking during government hour at the lower house of parliament.

In total, some 541 complaints regarding election crimes were submitted to the authorities.

Mass street protests against alleged election fraud in favor of United Russia during the December 4 parliamentary elections took place across Russia in December. Protesters have demanded the results of the polls, in which United Russia gained almost half of the vote, be cancelled and Central Election Commission Head Vladimir Churov be fired.

The protests prompted the authorities to initiate a series of reforms to improve political competition in Russia, particularly by easing registration requirements for political parties.