Alexey Navalnyi released on recognizance
Russian activist Alexey Navalny will stay at large until the sentence comes into full force. He was sentenced to five years in prison on July 18.
Ex-director of the company Kiraules Pyotr Ofitesrov was also convicted for theft of property.
Kirov Oblast Court considered their appeals on July 19. They protested against their arrest. It was announced that they could stay at large until the sentence came into power. They were released on recognizance. Head of the President’s Human Rights Council Mikhail Fedotov agreed to it: “The old Soviet tradition of arresting the convict in the court room hardly corresponds to the current Constitution.”
The arrested were delivered to court in a police bus, Lenta.ru reports referring to Russian information agencies. About 20 policemen were guarding the building. The opposition members’ adherents gathered near the court.
Navalnyi’s adherents had organized mass protest actions before the sentence was pronounced. About 200 people were detained.
