Police in Russia have apprehended at least 50 human rights demonstrators who had organized an 'unauthorized' rally in the capital.

Police in central Moscow disrupted a gathering of reportedly hundreds of people and journalists who were demonstrating against what they dub as the government's 'muzzling' of the press in the wake of the country's incumbent premier, Vladimir Putin's assumption of power in 2000.

"At 18:00 [15:00 GMT] a group numbering up to 100 tried to hold an unsanctioned rally. Police detained over 50 and took them to a police station," RIA Novosti quoted Moscow police spokesperson Viktor Biryukov as saying.

Security forces in their hundreds broke up the so-called "march of the discontented" near Russia's political hub, Kremlin, and dragged the dissidents off the scene of protests.

Demonstrators chanted slogans in support of media liberty and called on the government to "respect the constitution."

“The idea to organize the demonstrations on the 31st of the month here in the capital is an attempt to make a tradition of peaceful gatherings to allow citizens the chance to defend the Russian constitution.” said Lyudmila Alexeeva, a longtime human rights activist.

Also amongst the detained was Eduard Limonov, a leftist founder of the former National Bolshevik Party and a strong Putin critic.

Following on, police reportedly released all the protesters later on Saturday after 'disciplining' them, Russia's interior department said on Sunday.

GHN/SC/DT