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Alexei Navalny released from custody Alexei Navalny released from custody
(35 minutes later)
A Russian court has temporarily released the opposition leader Alexei Navalny from custody, but placed him under travel restrictions, as he awaits the outcome of an appeal against his five-year jail sentence.A Russian court has temporarily released the opposition leader Alexei Navalny from custody, but placed him under travel restrictions, as he awaits the outcome of an appeal against his five-year jail sentence.
Prosecutors unexpectedly asked for Navalny to be allowed to wait for the appeal decision at home in Moscow after his conviction on embezzlement charges.Prosecutors unexpectedly asked for Navalny to be allowed to wait for the appeal decision at home in Moscow after his conviction on embezzlement charges.
The move could be intended to appease opposition activists. On Thursday night, thousands of Russians flooded the main arteries leading to the Kremlin, demanding his freedom and calling for the ousting of the president, Vladimir Putin. Dozens were detained.The move could be intended to appease opposition activists. On Thursday night, thousands of Russians flooded the main arteries leading to the Kremlin, demanding his freedom and calling for the ousting of the president, Vladimir Putin. Dozens were detained.
Navalny was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs on Thursday after the judge, Sergei Blinov, ended a three-hour verdict reading by finding him guilty. He hugged his wife, Yulia, and was led away by police.Navalny was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs on Thursday after the judge, Sergei Blinov, ended a three-hour verdict reading by finding him guilty. He hugged his wife, Yulia, and was led away by police.
An anti-corruption activist who became the most popular figure to emerge from protests that erupted around Putin's return to the Kremlin last year, Navalny was accused of embezzlement, and a handful of other charges, after Putin unleashed a crackdown on the opposition in the wake of his inauguration. An anti-corruption activist who became the most popular figure to emerge from protests that erupted around Putin's return to the Kremlin last year, Navalny was accused of embezzlement and a handful of other charges, after Putin unleashed a crackdown on the opposition in the wake of his inauguration.
Navalny has built a large following via corruption investigations into Putin's closest allies that he publicises on his popular social media accounts and blogs. On Tuesday, just two days before the verdict hearing, he released an investigation into alleged corruption at Russian Railways, one of Russia's largest state-run firms, headed by a close Putin ally, Vladimir Yakunin. He has dubbed Putin Russia's "main thief".Navalny has built a large following via corruption investigations into Putin's closest allies that he publicises on his popular social media accounts and blogs. On Tuesday, just two days before the verdict hearing, he released an investigation into alleged corruption at Russian Railways, one of Russia's largest state-run firms, headed by a close Putin ally, Vladimir Yakunin. He has dubbed Putin Russia's "main thief".
The verdict against him – that he embezzled 16m roubles (£325,000) from a timber firm while advising the governor of Russia's Kirov region – is widely seen as a means of silencing him. The verdict against Navalny – that he embezzled 16m roubles (£325,000) from a timber firm while advising the governor of Russia's Kirov region – is widely seen as a means of silencing him.
He was sentenced alongside a co-defendant, Petr Ofitserov, who was given four years in jail. Ofitserov's wife, and the mother of his five children, sobbed uncontrollably after the sentence was handed down.He was sentenced alongside a co-defendant, Petr Ofitserov, who was given four years in jail. Ofitserov's wife, and the mother of his five children, sobbed uncontrollably after the sentence was handed down.
As the verdict was being read, Ofitserov wrote on his Facebook page: "I'm getting lots of messages saying: 'hold on, hold on'. Thanks everyone for the support – it helps. But if they jail people like us, then we're not the ones who will have to hold on. It's bad in the cage, but at least it's honest. You'll have to make a more difficult choice – either you're with them or with yourselves."As the verdict was being read, Ofitserov wrote on his Facebook page: "I'm getting lots of messages saying: 'hold on, hold on'. Thanks everyone for the support – it helps. But if they jail people like us, then we're not the ones who will have to hold on. It's bad in the cage, but at least it's honest. You'll have to make a more difficult choice – either you're with them or with yourselves."
In Moscow, the centre of last year's anti-Putin protests, Russians erupted in anger at the verdict. Thousands occupied Tverskaya, the main street leading to the Kremlin, as riot police and special forces attempted to break up the gathering. Protesters shouted "Freedom" and erupted into applause as cars honked in solidarity. In Moscow, the centre of last year's anti-Putin protests, Russians erupted in anger at the verdict. Thousands occupied Tverskaya, the main street leading to the Kremlin, as riot police and special forces attempted to break up the gathering. Protesters shouted "Freedom!" and erupted into applause as cars honked in solidarity.
In a statement released after the verdict, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man and now its best-known political prisoner, wrote that it was "inevitable and predictable" because of Russia's long history of jailing political opponents. Khodorkovsky was arrested 10 years ago on economic charges widely seen to be punishment for his wealth and ability to challenge Putin.In a statement released after the verdict, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man and now its best-known political prisoner, wrote that it was "inevitable and predictable" because of Russia's long history of jailing political opponents. Khodorkovsky was arrested 10 years ago on economic charges widely seen to be punishment for his wealth and ability to challenge Putin.
"[U]ntil we realise that the trials of Navalny, Bolotnaya and hundreds of thousands of other guiltlessly convicted people are our trials, they are just going to keep on locking us up, one at a time," he wrote. "The era of unbelief and indifference is ending." "[Until] we realise that the trials of Navalny, Bolotnaya and hundreds of thousands of other guiltlessly convicted people are our trials, they are just going to keep on locking us up, one at a time," he wrote. "The era of unbelief and indifference is ending."
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, issued a rare statement to condemn the verdict against Navalny, saying it "proves that we have no independent judiciary".Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, issued a rare statement to condemn the verdict against Navalny, saying it "proves that we have no independent judiciary".
The Russian elite also expressed shock and anger at the verdict.The Russian elite also expressed shock and anger at the verdict.
Alexei Kudrin, a former finance minister who remains close to Putin, wrote on Twitter: "The verdict seems less like punishment and more like it is aimed at isolating him from society and from the election process."Alexei Kudrin, a former finance minister who remains close to Putin, wrote on Twitter: "The verdict seems less like punishment and more like it is aimed at isolating him from society and from the election process."
Navalny, who largely appeals to Russia's internet-connected urban youth disillusioned with Putin's increasingly authoritarian politics, was waging a campaign for Moscow mayor in snap elections called for September. He was forced to withdraw his candidacy in the wake of the verdict.Navalny, who largely appeals to Russia's internet-connected urban youth disillusioned with Putin's increasingly authoritarian politics, was waging a campaign for Moscow mayor in snap elections called for September. He was forced to withdraw his candidacy in the wake of the verdict.
If he serves the entire five-year sentence, he will be released from jail only after Russia's next presidential election, in 2018.If he serves the entire five-year sentence, he will be released from jail only after Russia's next presidential election, in 2018.
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