Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny 'released without charge'

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was arrested during anti-government protests, has been released without charge, his lawyer said.

Mr Navalny was arrested after a brief appearance at rally in Moscow demonstrating against Vladimir Putin and calling for a boycott of the March presidential election that he said would be rigged.

Supporters of opposition leader Navalny rally across Russia

In a challenge to President Vladimir Putin on his 65th birthday, protesters rallied across Russia on Saturday, heeding opposition leader Alexei Navalny's call to pressure authorities into letting him enter the presidential race.

Police allowed demonstrators in Moscow to rally near the Kremlin in an apparent desire to avoid marring Putin's birthday with a crackdown. A bigger rally in St. Petersburg, Putin's hometown, was disbanded by police after protesters blocked traffic and attempted to break through police cordons.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny detained again on way to rally

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained by police on his way to a political rally in Moscow.

The activist posted a video to Instagram in the early hours of Friday morning, saying officers were outside his home and summoning him to a police station.

Putin critic Navalny jailed after protests across Russia

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was handed a 15-day jail sentence on Monday for his part in a big anti-government protest in Moscow which buoyed the liberal opposition's morale a year before a presidential election.

Sunday's protest and others like it across Russia were estimated to be the largest since 2012 and foreshadow a presidential election which Vladimir Putin is expected to contest.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny found guilt

Russia's main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been found guilty of embezzlement and handed a five-year suspended sentence.

It bars him from running for president next year against Vladimir Putin.

But Mr Navalny has vowed to take part in the race regardless. He denies the charges and says he will appeal against the verdict.