The US department of state has "strongly condemned" the detention of hundreds of protesters throughout Russia including the country"s opposition leader on Sunday.Thousands took part to anti-corruption protests swept across 80 Russian towns and cities in what are believed to be the biggest demonstrations in the country since 2012, with the largest held in Moscow and St Petersburg. 

The US department of state said on Sunday it was "troubled" to learn of the arrest of Mr Navalny and called the detention of peaceful protesters "an affront to democratic values."

The United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout Russia on Sunday,"  spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement on Sunday evening.

Detaining peaceful protesters, human rights observers, and journalists is an affront to core democratic values.

We were troubled to hear of the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon arrival at the demonstration, as well as the police raids on the anti-corruption organization he heads.

The United States will monitor this situation, and  call on the government of Russia to immediately release all peaceful protesters.