Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny placed under house arrest once again after attending a protest outside the presidential complex.
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Hours after receiving a suspended sentence on counts of fraud, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was detained by police at a protest outside the presidential complex in Moscow.
The anti-corruption campaigner broke the terms of his house arrest to attend an unsanctioned demonstration organised by his supporters.
According to his Twitter account, the blogging activist is now back under house arrest.
Reports suggest more than 130 people were arrested at the rally, before it was shut down by authorities.
Thousands took to the streets of the capital to protest against the guilty verdicts handed to Navalny and his brother. The convictions are seen by many as an attempt by the Kremlin to silence opposition.
The Kremlin denies it has any influence over judges, or has the power to order cases to be opened, or charges to be laid against opponents.
Earlier in the day (December 30), a Moscow court convicted Navalny of embezzlement. He was given a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence. His brother Oleg was jailed for the same amount of time. Both deny the accusations.
Addressing the judge in the case, Navalny said:
“Aren’t you ashamed? Why are you putting my brother in prison? To punish me even harder? How disgusting!”
Oleg Navalny’s lawyer says he doesn’t know where his client will serve his sentence.