KIROV: Russia unexpectedly freed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on bail yesterday, 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.
In a highly unusual ruling that points to Kremlin uncertainty over how to handle Navalny’s case and new protests, a judge approved the prosecution request to free him pending his appeal so that he can run in a Moscow mayor election on September 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.
“I am very grateful to all the people who supported us, all the people who went to (protest in Moscow’s) Manezh Square and other squares,” the 37-year-old said, rushing across the court to hug his wife after he was let out of a glass courtroom cage.
The judge’s decision was greeted by applause in the court in Kirov, 900km northeast of Moscow. Under Russian law, he has 10 days to file an appeal and then the court has to decide whether to hear that appeal in 30 days.
“We understand perfectly well what has happened now. It’s an absolutely unique phenomenon in Russian justice,” Navalny said.
Reuters
