Thousands of Russians were protesting on Saturday against the alleged vote-rigging during the State Duma elections on Dec. 4.

The protest is widely seen as a test of Putin's patience to allow peaceful demonstrations in the country.

There were reports of huge turnouts of people at rallies in different parts of the country.

Check out the pictures of the rallies here:

Russia Protests-Dec. 10, 2011
Members of a local anarchist movement burn flares during a sanctioned rally Saturday in Bolotnaya Square to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections in Moscow. Reuters
Russia Protests
Policemen detain an activist during a rally in St. Petersburg Saturday to protest against violations during the parliamentary elections last week. Reuters
Russia Protests
Russian nationalists burn a flag of the United Russia party during a sanctioned rally in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on Saturday. Reuters
Russia Protests
People walk amid smoke from a flare in Moscow's city center to attend a sanctioned rally in Bolotnaya Square on Saturday. Reuters
Russia Protests
An aerial view of a sanctioned rally to protest against violations during the parliamentary elections last week is seen at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on Saturday. Reuters
Russia Protests
Opposition activists hold a rally in the Russian city of Vladivostok on Saturday to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections last week. Reuters
Russia Protests
Russians hold a rally in Krasnoyarsk on Saturday to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections last week. Reuters
Russia Protests
A man shouts slogans as he takes part in a rally in Krasnoyarsk on Saturday to protest against violations during the parliamentary elections last week. Reuters
Russia Protests
Interior Ministry officers stand guard to prevent disorders during rallies in central Moscow on Saturday to protest against violations at the parliamentary elections last week. Reuters
Russia Protests
A general view of a sanctioned rally to protest against violations during the parliamentary elections last week is seen at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on Saturday. Reuters
Russia Elections