The office of EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has issued a statement about the conviction and sentencing today in Moscow of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny (suspended sentence) and his brother Oleg (3.5 years in prison):
The guilty verdict delivered today, Tuesday 30 December, by the Zamoskvoretsky Court against Alexey Navalny and his brother Oleg Navalny appears to be politically motivated.
The charges against them have not been substantiated during the trial. With the exception of a few selected representatives of the media, no public and international observers were allowed into the court building for the reading of the verdict.
The EU stresses the importance of judicial decisions to be free from political interference, independent, and in full compliance with the rule of law.
In anticipation of announced public actions tonight in Moscow, the EU expects that all parties concerned will show restraint.
Dozhd TV correspondent reports police detaining dozens of demonstrators at the pro-Aleksei Navalny protests in central Moscow.
Here's a video of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny being detained by police on Moscow's central Tverskaya Ulitsa on his way to attend the Manezh Square protest near the Kremlin.
Aleksei Navalny, who was detained earlier this evening in central Moscow, says he is already home and being kept inside his apartment, where five police security officers are manning the door.
The website OvdInfo.org is tracking the number of demonstrators arrested at the central Moscow protests in support of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. So far it claims 132 people have been detained.
Russian photographer Mitya Aleshkovskiy has posted a photograph of detained protesters inside a police paddy wagon.
RFE/RL's Russian Service reports from the scene that police are mobilizing to clear Manezh Square of protesters who came out to demonstrate against today's conviction of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and his brother Oleg.
Riot police are continuing aggressive efforts to clear Manezh Square of pro-Navalny protesters. Some demonstrators have been carried away by men in uniform and, it appears, in civilian clothes.