Russian riot police detained dozens of protesters demonstrating outside a Moscow television station after it aired a documentary allegedly showing people being paid to rally against president-elect Vladimir Putin.

At least 500 people gathered for Sunday's unsanctioned rally near the city's largest television tower. Many there shouted “Shame to NTV” and “Russia without Putin.”

Russian opposition activist Sergei Udaltsov, who was among those arrested, described the journalists who made the film as “traitorous.”

The NTV program “Anatomy of a Protest” alleged that some people taking part in the rallies did so for cash payments. It also hinted the protest movement was being funded by the West.

NTV was once an independent television station, but fell under state control after Mr. Putin first came to power in 2000. The station says it is re-airing the documentary on Sunday.