Anti-corruption activist and opposition leader Alexey Navalny will serve seven days in custody for resisting arrest at an unauthorized rally in central Moscow, a court ruled Tuesday.
Navalny together with other protesters participated in the unsanctioned protest a day before, following the sentencing of several activists for their participation in riots that swept the city’s downtown in May 2012. Those activists were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 2 1/2 to four years, and one was given a suspended sentence.
Navalny was among 420 protesters detained soon after the sentencing took place, according to an official police tally. He faced a fine of up to 1,000 rubles ($30) or 15 days behind bars.
Navalny was accused of having participated in an unsanctioned protest, inciting chaos and resisting arrest. He denied that he had done anything wrong, reminding the court of a suspended sentence he was given in a similar case last year.
Boris Nemtsov, an opposition activist and former state lawmaker, was detained along with Navalny. He will spend 10 days in detention according to the ruling by Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court.
Over 400 people were arrested and scores injured in May 2012 riots. Dozens were later charged with inciting mass riots and using violence against law enforcement officers.
Author: Julia Alieva