The opposition leader flew back to Moscow from Germany on Sunday and was immediately detained by masked agents. He was held overnight at a police station in the city of Khimki, just north of the center of Moscow.
Navalny was placed on the nation’s federal wanted list last month for probation violation related to a 2014 fraud conviction, which he dismisses as politically motivated.
The Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has asked a court to replace his suspended sentence with imprisonment. If the request is granted, Navalny will likely face a 3.5-year jail term.
Governments around the world have criticized Russia for Navalny’s arrest. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, UK Secretary of State Dominic Raab and German Secretary of State Heiko Maas have all called for his immediate release.
This is a groundbreaking story, more to come …