Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition leader, said he was "ready for work" immediately after being released from a Moscow detention center on Sunday.
The 41-year-old lawyer, who has declared his intention to stand as a 2018 presidential candidate, was jailed for organizing protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin without permission.
"Hi. I'm out," Navalny wrote on his Instagram account, posting a picture of himself on a street. The release took place away from a crowd of journalists who had gathered in front of the prison.
Read more: Alexei Navalny, the candidate who can't be
Navalny said he was heading for the southern city of Astrakhan, where he is scheduled to hold a rally. In the Instagram post, he joked that, during the 20 day jail term, he read 20 books, learned some words of the Kyrgyz language, and drank 80 liters (20 gallons) of tea.
Earlier on Sunday, Navalny supporters hung a banner from a bridge near the Kremlin, reading: "It's time to get rid of Putin and time to elect Navalny."
Read more: Teacher for a day: Vladimir Putin lectures Russian schoolchildren
Navalny, who is expected to be barred from candidacy, launched his presidential bid in December last year. Since then he has opened campaign offices and held events to consolidate supporters across the country.
So far in 2017, Navalny has served sentences of 15, 25 and 20 days for organizing anti-Putin protests without authorization.
Who is Alexei Navalny? The face of Russia's opposition The lawyer-turned-political campaigner has been among the most prominent figures of Russia's opposition to President Vladimir Putin. Navalny came to prominence in 2008, when his blog exposing malpractice in Russian politics and among the country's major state-owned companies came to the public's attention. Revelations published on his blog even led to resignations, a rarity in Russian politics.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Disputed parliamentary elections In 2011, Navalny was arrested for the first time, spending 15 days in prison for his role at a rally outside the State Duma in Moscow. The parliamentary election victory for Putin's United Russia was marred by instances of ballot stuffing, reported by demonstrators on social media. Upon his release, Navalny pledged to make "extraordinary efforts" to continue the protest movement.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Second jail term After being re-elected president in 2012, Putin ordered Russia's Investigative Committee to launch a criminal enquiry into Nivalny's past. The following year the campaigner was charged and sentenced again, this time for five years, for alleged embezzlement in the city of Kirov. However, he was released the following day pending affirmation from a higher court. The sentence was later suspended.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Anti-Kremlin platform grows Despite being embroiled in legal troubles, Navalny was allowed to run in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election. A second-place finish behind Putin-ally Sergei Sobyanin was seen as an overwhelming success and galvanized the Russian opposition movement.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Navalny takes to social media His anti-Kremlin rhetoric has led to Navalny being banned from appearing on Russian state-owned television. That has forced him to deliver his political message over social media and his blog. His talent for public speaking, punchy use of language and humorous mockery of Putin and his loyalists has mobilized a legion of young followers.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Presidential ambitions In December 2016, the opposition leader announced the formal start of his campaign to run for the Russian presidency in March 2018. However, repeated accusations of corruption, which his supporters say are politically motivated, could ultimately bar him from running for public office.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Convicted of corruption In 2016, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia had violated Navalny's right to a fair trial in the Kirov case. Although Russia's Supreme Court overturned the five-year sentence, the verdict was sent back to the Kirov court, which in 2017 again charged Navalny with a suspended five-year sentence. Navalny's challenge against the ruling remains ongoing.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Moscow's biggest protests in six years In February, 2017, anti-corruption rallies across dozens of Russian cities led to the arrests of over 1,000 demonstrators, including Navalny. The protests, believed to have been the largest in the Russian capital since 2012, were spurred by a report published by Navalny linking Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to a billion-euro property empire. The presidential candidate was released 15 days later.
Who is Alexei Navalny? Physically assaulted Navalny was assaulted and hospitalized in April 2017 after being hit in the eye with a chemical green dye, permanently damaging his right cornea. Navalny accused the Russian authorities of stopping him from seeking medical treatment abroad due to the embezzlement conviction against him. However, he was eventually permitted by the Kremlin human rights council to travel to Spain for eye surgery. Author: David Martin
RussiaExpert on October 22nd, 2017 at 13:23 UTC »
Putin have now allowed Ksenia Sobchak to run as a spoiler candidate, so Navalny is going to be denied registration.
Sobchak is a TV personality / vanity figure mimicking Hilton or Kardhisan, right down to a sex tape. She professes liberal views, but she did visit Kremlin before announcing her bid for presidency. Her late father, Anatoly Sobchak, was the boss of Putin, who propelled then unknown KGB subcolonel into the world of commerce and politics.
skrinsher on October 22nd, 2017 at 10:57 UTC »
Not that big of a story, honestly. He’s being “jailed” for a few weeks like this every so often. Few times a year for the last 3-4 years probably.
Shogouki on October 22nd, 2017 at 10:31 UTC »
And I'm sure he'll be right back in prison when he becomes a thorn in Putin's side again.