Sunday, Jan. 24, 10:42
More than 3,200 protesters have been reportedly detained across Russia after taking part in rallies that included many young people.
The demonstrators called for the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was arrested after returning to the country from Germany on January 17.
Navalny is believed to have been poisoned last August with a toxic nerve agent used in chemical weapons. He received treatment in Germany.
Reuters news agency reported that around 40,000 people gathered in Moscow on Saturday. The authorities said the rally was unauthorized. Some of the participants were detained.
An independent human rights group says at least 3,200 people were detained in more than 110 cities and towns.
That's believed to be the largest number of people detained in demonstrations in Russia in recent years.
A survey by a non-governmental organization found that 40 percent of the protesters had taken part in a demonstration for the first time and many of them were in their 20s or 30s.
A woman in her 20s who was at a rally in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok says she couldn't accept that the authorities had detained Navalny.
Navalny and his team hope to garner more support from younger generations to increase the pressure on the Russian government.