RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny bids goodbye to supporters in Kirov after his temporary release from jail

Record ID: 863023

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny bids goodbye to supporters in Kirov after his temporary release from jail
  • Date: 20th July 2013
  • Summary: KIROV, RUSSIA (JULY 19, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY AND WIFE YULIA WALKING ON TRAIN PLATFORM TRAIN CONDUCTOR NAVALNY TALKING TO SUPPORTERS SUPPORTER LOOKING AWAY NAVALNY TALKING TO LAWYER OLGA MIKHAILOVNA PEOPLE WATCHING NAVALNY SHAKING HANDS WITH SUPPORTERS NAVALNY SAYING (Russian) 'BYE EVERYBODY' AND BOARDING TRAIN
  • Embargoed: 4th August 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABNN61PSGMUZXY3LVO2TQLQDKC
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny left Kirov on a train on Friday (July 19) hours after an appeals court unexpectedly released him from jail on bail.
    Navalny's release was seen as Russia bending to the will of thousands of protesters who denounced his five-year jail sentence as a crude attempt by President Vladimir Putin to silence him.
    Putin's spokesman called the protesters "mobs" and warned that the rallies were illegal.
    In a highly unusual ruling that points to Kremlin uncertainty over how to handle Navalny's case, a judge approved the prosecution request to free him pending his appeal so that he can run in a Moscow mayor election on Sept. 8.
    The anti-corruption blogger will be unable to leave Moscow but hailed the decision, a day after he was convicted of theft, as a victory for people power.
    Experts said it was unprecedented for the prosecution to seek bail on such terms after sentencing.
    Navalny was convicted on Thursday (July 18) of stealing at least 16 million roubles (494,000 USD) from a timber firm when he was advising the Kirov regional governor in 2009.
    A sharp critic of Putin and the United Russia ruling party, Navalny and his supporters have called his conviction and trial politically motivated.
    Navalny, who is a candidate for mayor of Moscow, was released while he appeals the case at the request of state prosecutors to allow him to participate in the September elections.
    The United States and European Union voiced concern over Navalny's conviction, saying it raised questions about the rule of law and Russia's treatment of Putin's opponents.
    While it makes it easier for him to stay in the mayoral race, there is no indication Navalny's release from custody will affect the court's ruling on his planned appeal.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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