Alexei Navalny, a Russian lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner, was found guilty of embezzlement on 25 August 2018. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but this sentence was changed by the Supreme Court of Russia to a suspended sentence of 3.5 years. On 7 January 2019, he was released from custody after serving 15 days of his sentence. On 10 January 2019, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the detention and sentencing of Navalny violated his right to freedom of expression
The ruling stated that the detention was unlawful because it was imposed solely for the purpose of preventing him from exercising his right to freedom of expression and assembly in violation of Article 11 (right to freedom of expression). On 14 January 2019, the Russian authorities upheld the decision and rejected the ECHR’s ruling.
When we get a chance to take part in elections, I am ready to fight for leading positions, including in the presidential vote.Alexei Navalny
When men are arrested without any legal basis and for political reasons, it's merely a routine, everyday occurrence in Russia, and hardly anyone has any sympathy.Alexei Navalny
People don't believe in positive changes anymore.Alexei Navalny
