Russia erupts in protests after elections - in pictures

Communist party supporters hold flags as they gather to protest against official results of the parliamentary elections, in Moscow Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Opposition leaders, Boris Nemtsov (r), and Vladimir Ryzhkov (l), stand in front of a poster reading 'This election is farce!' during a rally in Moscow Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Police detain an opposition activist during a protest against alleged vote rigging, in St Petersburg Photograph: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

Interior ministry troops look on during a rally organised on social networks against the results of parliamentary election in St Petersburg Photograph: Alexander Demianchuk/Reuters

Activists from the pro-Kremlin youth groups Moldaya gvardiya and Nashi (Young guard and Ours) attend a rally as they celebrate the victory of United Russia party Photograph: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images

A member of the Communist party shouts slogans during a rally in central Moscow Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA

Russian opposition member Roman Dobrokhotov burns his ballot during an opposition rally in Moscow Photograph: Ivan Sekretarev/AP

Russian police detain a participant during an opposition protest in central Moscow Photograph: Anton Golubev/Reuters

Police officers detain an opposition activist during a protest in St Petersburg Photograph: Dmitry Lovetsky/AP

Activists from the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi (Ours) hold flags with portraits of President Dmitry Medvedev as they celebrate victory of the ruling United Russia party Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA

Activists from Nashi (Ours) celebrate in front of a stage decorated with portraits of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev at a rally in the centre of Moscow Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA