Russia Opposition Leader Freed On Bail.Will Run For Mayor Of Moscow

Russia Opposition Leader Freed On Bail, Protests Rattle Kremlin -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Russia unexpectedly freed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on bail on Friday, 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 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.

Read more ....

More News On the Release Of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

The embrace that says 'I'm free': Russia releases anti-corruption blogger on bail less than 24 hours after jailing him for embezzlement -- Daily Mail
Court frees Russian protest leader -- The Australian
Freed opposition leader will run for Moscow mayor -- USA Today
Putin Foe Navalny Freed Pending Appeal After Outcry -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny freed on bail -- BBC
Kremlin critic Aleksey Navalny thanks supporters for rallying in his defence -- Euronews
Navalny Episode Hits Russia Where It Hurts -- Wall Street Journal
Court Decision Leaves Putin Foe Free to Run for Mayor of Moscow -- Time

My Comment: When all of my family and friends in Russia are in agreement that this was a wrong verdict and sentence for opposition leader Alexei Navalny .... that is when I know that the Kremlin/Putin has a problem. To their credit they released him today .... and are now hoping that he will lose in Moscow's municipal elections in September.