15:43
18.7.2013
Protesters blocking Tverskaya street - the main drag leading to the Kremlin.
15:49
18.7.2013
A correspondent for "Bloomberg News." Activists have also estimated about 5,000 people, but there has been no official number from authorities (usually they vary widely).
15:52
18.7.2013
Tverskaya Street. Right in front of the Kremlin.
15:55
18.7.2013
Interesting news coming from Kirov, where Navalny was sentenced. From our Russian Service:
A representative of the Prosecutor's Office has filed an appeal against the courtroom arrest of Aleksei Navalny and Pyotr Ofitserova. The prosecution believes that the decision to arrest was unlawful because the sentence had not yet entered into force. The court will take up the appeal tomorrow.
A representative of the Prosecutor's Office has filed an appeal against the courtroom arrest of Aleksei Navalny and Pyotr Ofitserova. The prosecution believes that the decision to arrest was unlawful because the sentence had not yet entered into force. The court will take up the appeal tomorrow.
15:59
18.7.2013
16:13
18.7.2013
Interfax: Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman says 2,500 people are demonstrating. Organizers have estimated about 5,000. The discrepancy is par for the course.
16:18
18.7.2013
From Saint Petersburg, where Lenta.ru, a Russian news site, is reporting that 25 people have been arrested.
16:20
18.7.2013
From RFE/RL correspondent Richard Solash in Washington:
U.S. Senators John McCain and Benjamin Cardin have slammed the Navalny verdict. In a joint statement, McCain says the verdict "would be a total farce if it were not so deeply tragic, especially for Russia." Navalny and others "finding the courage to speak up against the injustices, suppression of freedom, and the growing culture of impunity in Russia today" are "Russian patriots, servants of justice and truth, and the future leaders of their country." Cardin says the verdict "continues Russia's turn back to the darker days of the Soviet Union." "Trumped up charges and sham verdicts of political opponents, critics, and individuals who simply want to see a better future for their country, will only embolden, not end, the growing campaigns to name and shame corrupt officials and those who blatantly betray the trust of the Russian people. No one is fooled by the games being played here." Both senators call for Navalny's release.
16:24
18.7.2013
Protesters singing, "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Navalny is our mayor." (it sounds better in Russian)