MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court has rejected opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s appeal against his recent arrest for allegedly violating the terms of his probation while he was recovering in Germany from nerve-agent poisoning. Appearing in court by video link from jail on Thursday, Navalny alleged that criminal proceedings against him are part of government efforts to intimidate the opposition. He said, “Yes, you have the power now to put me in handcuffs, but it’s not going to last forever.” Tens of thousands of people in over 100 Russian cities last weekend demanded Navalny’s release, and his supporters are organizing more rallies for Sunday. The 44-year-old anti-corruption investigator is the most well-known critic of President Vladimir Putin’s government.
Navalny defiant as Russian court rejects arrest appeal
