Court jails Russian opposition leader Navalny for 20 days

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny enters a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Police took Navalny into custody in Moscow on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 in an apparent bid to prevent him from joining a rally that he organized in another city, where several people were also detained. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny enters a court room in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. Police took Navalny into custody in Moscow on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017 in an apparent bid to prevent him from joining a rally that he organized in another city, where several people were also detained. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

By Associated Press October 2, 2017 2 min read

MOSCOW (AP) – A Moscow court on Monday sent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to jail for 20 days for calling for an unsanctioned protest, which would keep him away from a major rally this weekend.

Police detained Navalny on Friday, preventing him from traveling to a rally in a major Russian city that had given its official permission to hold the gathering. Charges brought against the Kremlin’s top rival relate to the upcoming rally in St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city and President Vladimir Putin’s hometown, which has not been sanctioned.

After he announced his presidential bid last year, Navalny, arguably Russia’s most popular opposition politician, inspired a grassroots campaign in Russian regions to support his nomination.

“20 days in jail. Old man Putin got so scared of our rallies in the regions and decided to make himself a little present for himself for his birthday,” Navalny tweeted shortly after the ruling Monday evening.

The rally in St. Petersburg was scheduled for Saturday, which is also Putin’s birthday.