Russia protests: Kremlin critic Navalny jailed, 100 arrested
Russia's digitally savvy 'Putin generation' 02:57
Story highlights
- Navalny is sentenced to 30 days of detention
- Nearly 1,400 others are arrested, a monitoring group says
Moscow (CNN)Russian
opposition leader Alexey Navalny was found guilty late Monday of
calling repeatedly for unlawful protests and sentenced to 30 days of
detention, his spokeswoman said, following a day of nationwide
anti-corruption demonstrations.
Navalny, in court in Moscow, accused the judge of helping the police write the justification for his arrest.
His wife, Yulia, reported Navalny was detained at his Moscow home.
"30
days," Navalny tweeted after the sentencing. "Not only they robbed the
whole country, but I'll miss Depeche Mode concert in Moscow because of
them."
The
arrest of Navalny, 41, came as thousands of protesters clashed with
police in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The opposition leader, who plans to
run against Vladimir Putin in next year's presidential election, had
mobilized support on social networks in the hope the rallies would
rattle the Kremlin.
Hundreds of arrests
Nearly
1,400 people were arrested in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Monday,
according to OVD, an independent group monitoring arrests.
The group said 825 people were detained during protests in the capital and 548 arrested in St. Petersburg.
The
Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs earlier in the day posted
different numbers for the two cities: 150 in Moscow and 500 in St.
Petersburg.
Police detain a protester in St. Petersburg on Monday.
Earlier Monday, Russian authorities warned the public and declared the planned rally in the capital was illegal.
"Law
enforcement agencies will be forced to take all necessary measures to
stop provocations, mass unrest or any actions leading to a violation of
public security, creating conditions for threatening the life and health
of citizens," the prosecutor general said in a statement
Hakuna maoni