MOSCOW – Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been awarded 30 days administrative arrest, and more than 1,500 of his supporters were apprehended after anti-corruption demonstrations across the country on Monday, international media reported.
The police detained Navalny at his Moscow home, before he could join protesters who scuffled with police in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Navalny called on Russians stage protests on Monday – Russia Day – to show their outrage at alleged corruption at the highest levels. To moblise the public, he released a film on Youtube in March accusing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of having vast wealth through a dubious network of foundations.
The demonstrations were the second mass action since March staged on the call of Navalny, who intends to stand against President Putin in next presidency election.
A Moscow court, sitting late Monday, sentenced Navalny after finding him guilty of violating law regarding holding rallies.
According to OVD, an independent group observing arrests in Russian, claimed that nearly 1,400 people were detained in Moscow and St. Petersburg on Monday.
During the protest, demonstrators chanted “Shame!”, “Putin is a thief!” and “Freedom to Navalny!”, besides shouting “Russia without Putin.
The demonstration coincided with a series of official events were being held across the country to observe Russia Day, the national holiday dedicated to the 1990 declaration of sovereignty.
