Since 2009, public protests have challenged president putin's authority in russia. the urban middle class, human rights groups, and opposition political parties are concerned with putin's strong-arm leadership style and increasingly close ties to what group or organization?

   The Siloviki

Explanation:  Siloviki is a Russian political term for those politicians, so the plural is in question, the singular is a silovik, who came into politics from some of the security forces, i.e. military, police or similar services. It could also be the secret services that come from some of the former security structures like the KGB and the like. Given that Putin is known as a strong steel arm leader, it is logical that he is attached to such organisations that can provide him with such firmness in his rule. On the other hand, a non-political organisation, a democratically oriented urban middle class is always against this type of governing.

 The correct answer is :  The siloviki

Explanation:  The term translates "strong men" who claim to have a great desire for the resurgence of a strong Russia. They are very well educated people who provide commercial experience to their government activities. They do not have a single leader.