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| Putin foe avoids prison but is detained for breaking house arrest | Putin foe avoids prison but is detained for breaking house arrest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MOSCOW— Russian police detained a powerful opponent of President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday during a protest rally staged just hours after a court ordered the activist to remain under house arrest and jailed his brother. | MOSCOW— Russian police detained a powerful opponent of President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday during a protest rally staged just hours after a court ordered the activist to remain under house arrest and jailed his brother. |
| The defiance of Alexei Navalny to attend the anti-Putin demonstration — where crowds chanted against the Russian leader and his policies — pointed to possible reinvigorated opposition at a time when Putin’s image has suffered over issues such as a slumping economy. | The defiance of Alexei Navalny to attend the anti-Putin demonstration — where crowds chanted against the Russian leader and his policies — pointed to possible reinvigorated opposition at a time when Putin’s image has suffered over issues such as a slumping economy. |
| “Russia without Putin,” some cried as several thousand demonstrators filled Moscow’s Manezh Square. Police hustled away Navalny shortly after he arrived, but waited for about two hours before moving to disperse protesters. | |
| Earlier Tuesday, Navalny shouted “shame” in a Moscow courtroom after sentences were handed down after trial on fraud charges. | Earlier Tuesday, Navalny shouted “shame” in a Moscow courtroom after sentences were handed down after trial on fraud charges. |
| Both Navalny and his brother Oleg received three-and-a-half-year sentences. Navalny avoided prison with a suspended sentence, which required he continue his nearly year-long house arrest during appeals. But his brother was jailed — a move Navalny decried as a pressure tactic by the Kremlin. | Both Navalny and his brother Oleg received three-and-a-half-year sentences. Navalny avoided prison with a suspended sentence, which required he continue his nearly year-long house arrest during appeals. But his brother was jailed — a move Navalny decried as a pressure tactic by the Kremlin. |
| “Why are you putting him in jail, just to punish me even more?” he yelled in court. | “Why are you putting him in jail, just to punish me even more?” he yelled in court. |
| Several hours later, defying house arrest, Navalny joined demonstrators shouting “I am the brother of Navalny!” and “Free Russia!” | Several hours later, defying house arrest, Navalny joined demonstrators shouting “I am the brother of Navalny!” and “Free Russia!” |
| The trial of Navalny and his brother — charged with bilking a company using doctored shipping orders — became a rallying point for Putin’s opponents who claim the case was politically motived punishment. | The trial of Navalny and his brother — charged with bilking a company using doctored shipping orders — became a rallying point for Putin’s opponents who claim the case was politically motived punishment. |
| His appearance at the demonstration, as temperatures dipped close to zero, was viewed as both a challenge of the court ruling and the wider reach of Putin’s authority. | His appearance at the demonstration, as temperatures dipped close to zero, was viewed as both a challenge of the court ruling and the wider reach of Putin’s authority. |
| In Washington, State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke called the Moscow court decisions a “disturbing development designed to punish and deter political activism.” | |
| It was by no means the first time Navalny had been detained at a protest. In the past, Navalny was generally released soon after, or at most several days later. But given the terms of his house arrest, authorities could take a harder line. | |
| In a final argument before the court earlier this month, Navalny pledged that charges against “hostages” such as his brother “will not stop me.” But he now faces a dilemma: How hard to push against the Kremlin without putting his brother at further possible risk. | In a final argument before the court earlier this month, Navalny pledged that charges against “hostages” such as his brother “will not stop me.” But he now faces a dilemma: How hard to push against the Kremlin without putting his brother at further possible risk. |
| Navalny’s anti-corruption movement has long been a thorn in Putin’s side. Navalny led mass anti-Putin protests in 2011 and 2012 and made a strong showing against the Kremlin’s hand-picked candidate in the 2013 Moscow mayoral race. | Navalny’s anti-corruption movement has long been a thorn in Putin’s side. Navalny led mass anti-Putin protests in 2011 and 2012 and made a strong showing against the Kremlin’s hand-picked candidate in the 2013 Moscow mayoral race. |
| Navalny’s verdict was expected in mid-January, but it was abruptly rescheduled to before New Year’s Eve — the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and the start of an extended national holiday period during which many people leave Moscow. | Navalny’s verdict was expected in mid-January, but it was abruptly rescheduled to before New Year’s Eve — the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and the start of an extended national holiday period during which many people leave Moscow. |
| In 2013, when a court found Navalny guilty of embezzlement in a different case involving a timber company, authorities released him from prison after just one day following large protests in Moscow. He placed second in the Moscow mayor’s race just a few months later. | In 2013, when a court found Navalny guilty of embezzlement in a different case involving a timber company, authorities released him from prison after just one day following large protests in Moscow. He placed second in the Moscow mayor’s race just a few months later. |
| In the current case, Navalny and his brother were accused of defrauding a cosmetics company out of $800,000 through fake shipping bills. Prosecutors have sought a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and Navalny has been under house arrest since February | In the current case, Navalny and his brother were accused of defrauding a cosmetics company out of $800,000 through fake shipping bills. Prosecutors have sought a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and Navalny has been under house arrest since February |
| In the past year, anti-government protesters have confronted increasing pressures in Russia, which deepened its involvement in Ukraine’s conflict and faced growing tensions with the West. But to some Kremlin critics, the falling price of oil and the plunge of the Russian ruble raised the possibility that Putin’s grip on power might be weakening. | In the past year, anti-government protesters have confronted increasing pressures in Russia, which deepened its involvement in Ukraine’s conflict and faced growing tensions with the West. But to some Kremlin critics, the falling price of oil and the plunge of the Russian ruble raised the possibility that Putin’s grip on power might be weakening. |
| Yet Tuesday’s verdict demonstrated the unpredictable nature of how justice can be meted against political opposition figures in Russia. | Yet Tuesday’s verdict demonstrated the unpredictable nature of how justice can be meted against political opposition figures in Russia. |
| Around this time last year, Putin pardoned and released former oil tycoon and outspoken Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky after a decade-long imprisonment. After his release, Khodorkovsky said he considered Putin “a political opponent, not an enemy” because “he didn’t touch my family.” | Around this time last year, Putin pardoned and released former oil tycoon and outspoken Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky after a decade-long imprisonment. After his release, Khodorkovsky said he considered Putin “a political opponent, not an enemy” because “he didn’t touch my family.” |
| Carol Morello in Washington contributed to this report. |