Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny Given 15 Days In Custody

Russia’s leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny was sentenced Thursday to 15 days in custody for handing out leaflets in the subway.

A district court in Moscow ruled Thursday that Navalny, an anti-corruption crusader who spearheaded protests against President Vladimir Putin’s rule, violated the law when he campaigned on the subway for an unauthorized “anti-crisis” march on March 1.

When a rally of several thousand protested the verdict in December just outside the Kremlin in the boldest anti-government rally in years, Navalny tried to attend but was rounded up by police who drove him home.

The Huffington Post