Russian protest leader Navalny out of jail, faces 2 charges
Posted May 06, 2018 7:00 am
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."
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, center, gestures as he speaks using a loudspeaker at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. A group that monitors political repression in Russia says more than 350 people have been arrested in a day of nationwide protests against the upcoming inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a new six-year term as president. (AP Photo/Dmitry Serebryakov)
The Associated Press
Fighters of National Liberation movement clash with protesters during clashes at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Protesters shout anti-government slogans holding small posters reading ' Russia is us!', 'I'm over it' at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Protesters push police barriers during a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square, Moscow, on Saturday May 5, 2018. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Demonstrator carries a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Protesters jump over a barrier during a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Russian police push protesters back during a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018.Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in Pushkin Square, Moscow, Saturday May 5, 2018. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St .Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
A demonstrator carries a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a massive protest rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Alexei Navalny, anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's most prominent critic, called for nationwide protests on Saturday, two days ahead of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a fourth term as Russian president. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain a protester at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Russian police detain protesters at a demonstration against President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Russians angered by the impending inauguration of Vladimir Putin to a new term as the country's president demonstrated throughout the country on Saturday. Police arrested hundreds, including protest organizer Alexei Navalny, the anti-corruption campaigner who is Putin's most prominent foe. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Demonstrators carry posters depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin during a massive protest rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. The sign on the poster reads: 'He is not a Tzar for us'. Alexei Navalny, anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's most prominent critic, called for nationwide protests on Saturday, two days ahead of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a fourth term as Russian president. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
A demonstrator sits on a police car to stop it during a protest rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Alexei Navalny, anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's most prominent critic, called for nationwide protests on Saturday, two days ahead of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a fourth term as Russian president. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press
Demonstrators march during a massive protest rally in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, May 5, 2018. Alexei Navalny, anti-corruption campaigner and Putin's most prominent critic, called for nationwide protests on Saturday, two days ahead of the inauguration of Vladimir Putin for a fourth term as Russian president. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)
The Associated Press