MOSCOW (AP) — Alexei Navalny, the leader of protests against President Vladimir Putin that resulted in the arrests of more than 1,500 demonstrators across Russia, says he has been released from detention but faces two charges.
Navalny said Sunday on Twitter that he had been released after being arrested on Moscow’s Pushkin Square on Saturday. He said he faces charges of organizing an unauthorized meeting and of resisting police. Each of those charges can carry a jail sentence of 15 days.
OND-Info, an organization that monitors Russian political arrests, said at least 1,575 people were arrested in demonstrations in 26 cities across Russia protesting Putin’s upcoming inauguration Monday for a new term. It was not clear Sunday how many remained in custody.
Amnesty International called the arrests and beatings of some Russian protesters “outrageous.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.