Russian Court Releases Navalny From Custody Pending Appeal

MOSCOW, July 19 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian court released opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny from custody Friday, as the five-year prison sentence handed down to him the day before will only come in force in ten days, after his appeal is heard.

Navalny was taken into custody Thursday after being sentenced by a court in the city of Kirov for masterminding a 2009 embezzlement scheme involving a state-owned timber supply company in the Kirov region. Navalny has denied the charges, claiming the trial was politically motivated and orchestrated by the Kremlin in response to his role in organizing a series of massive public protests against President Vladimir Putin.

The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office requested Navalny be released from custody until his sentence comes into legal force. If Navalny does not appeal the verdict, he will have to go to prison in 10 days, it said.

Navalny, 37, was released in the courtroom Friday along with his co-defendant Pyotr Ofitserov, who was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the crime. They will be required to sign a pledge not to leave Moscow, their city of residence.

Thousands rallied in central Moscow Thursday night protesting Navalny’s conviction. Police said they briefly detained more than 200 protesters.

Full story: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130719/182319691/Russian-Court-Releases-Navalny-From-Custody-Pending-Appeal.html

-- RIA NOVOSTI 2013-07-19

I Wonder if vanishing will come into this?? emmmmmmmmmmmm

I'm glad he's out for now - it's far from over though and they may still re-arrest him after the Moscow mayor elections are over.

Russia/Putin has completely gone off the deep end and it's a very worrying downward spiral.