An image of a teenage girl sitting in front of riot police with the Russian constitution on her lap has gone viral - viewed by many as a metaphor for young people's disillusionment with politics in the nation.

Olga Misik, 17, was pictured reading the document to police in Moscow during a demonstration calling for free elections, in which several people were injured.

Photographer Alexei Abanin took the picture of Olga after police, dressed in combat gear and armed with rubber batons, paused their march on protesters in the centre of the Russian capital.

Olga Misik, 17, became a symbol of pro-democracy resistance in Moscow after an image of her sitting down in front of riot police and reading the constitution went viral

Thousands of protesters were beaten by Putin's police as they gathered in the Russian capital to demand free and fair elections in the city

Activists took to the streets after a number of anti-Putin candidates were disqualified from running in elections for the city's Duma

A pro-democracy protester holding a banner which reads 'I have a right to my candidate' takes part in demonstrations in central Moscow on July 27

'She's just one tired girl against the police,' Mr Abanin told PA. 'And the fact that she is young, and sitting in a bulletproof vest with the constitution, adds emotions.

'This picture looks like a metaphor.'

Olga later became one of more than 1,000 arrested by police during the protests, which came after a number of anti-Vladimir Putin candidates were barred from running in September's Moscow City Duma election.

Olga told Latvian outlet Meduza: 'It is foolish to think that this is a rally only for free elections or the admission of candidates.

'This is a rally in defence of elementary constitutional rights that would not be questioned in a democratic state.'

Mr Abanin, a 30-year-old photojournalist, joined the demonstrations as a protester and photographed fellow protesters who had been bloodied by police batons.

'For about an hour we just stood there screaming some things like 'Russia without Putin',' Mr Abanin said.

'The youth of Russia has been struggling with the system for a long time, and is already tired. But they will still continue to protest - and eventually win.'

Mr Putin has been president of Russia since 2000 - except for 2008 to 2012, when he took the role of prime minister as he was barred from taking three consecutive terms by the constitution.

Police violently broke up rallies in Moscow after describing them as 'unauthorised'

Around 1,000 people, including Olga Misik, were arrested during the demonstration and accused of carrying out an unauthorised demonstration

Five of the protest organisers are now facing up to 15 years in jail accused of mass unrest and violence against police (pictured, a man is arrested on July 27)

Investigators say they have identified more than 10 people have been identified as organising the protest (pictured, an activist is arrested on July 27)

He has been accused of subverting democracy and rigging elections to maintain his grip on power.

Russian investigators said Thursday they had detained five people as part of a criminal probe into mass unrest after thousands took to the streets last week to demand fair elections.

The investigation into mass unrest, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison, and violence against police, comes as critics accuse the authorities of trying to crush a new wave of protests.

Authorities launched the clampdown as opposition politicians are fighting to get on the ballot for a Moscow parliament election in September amid anger over worsening living standards and President Vladimir Putin's falling approval ratings.

The investigators said Thursday more than 10 people had been identified who helped organise and participated in a July 27 unauthorised rally in central Moscow.

Five participants have been detained including Alexey Minyaylo, a well-known activist and aide to Lyubov Sobol, an independent politician who has fought to get on the ballot for the Moscow parliament election.

Opposition politicians deny mass unrest took place, stressing the July 27 rally was peaceful and that police used violence against protesters

Police officers detain people during an unsanctioned rally in the center of Moscow, Russia

Police officers stand guard during an unauthorized rally in support of rejected independent candidates in the upcoming Moscow City Duma

Minyalo's apartment was searched in the middle of the night, he said in a Facebook post.

'Let them come, I am not afraid,' he said ahead of his detention, urging Muscovites to continue protesting. 'We will win.'

Last Saturday, nearly 1,400 people were arrested at an unauthorised protest in Moscow against the exclusion of opposition politicians from the September election.

Nearly all prominent opposition leaders were detained ahead of the rally and jailed for up to 30 days, but most of the others held have since been released.

The opposition denies mass unrest took place, stressing the July 27 rally was peaceful and that police used violence against protesters, not the other way around.

Sobol, a close ally of the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has called on Russians to take part in a peaceful 'walk' in central Moscow on Saturday.

More than 17,000 people on Facebook have expressed interest in that rally despite the threat of new violence.