Russian opposition leader detained in Moscow, says spokeswoman

Alexei Navalny was taken to a local police station for reasons that are unclear

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks during an interview with AFP at the office of his Anti-corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow. Photograph:  Mladen Antonov/AFP
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny speaks during an interview with AFP at the office of his Anti-corruption Foundation (FBK) in Moscow. Photograph: Mladen Antonov/AFP

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been detained in Moscow, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh wrote on Twitter on Saturday.

Yarmysh said Navalny had been taken to a local police station and that the reason for his detention was unclear.

Navalny, who has been detained and jailed several times for organising anti-Kremlin protests, was barred from running in Russia’s presidential election earlier this year on what he says was a false pretext.

The 42-year-old was last sentenced to 30 days in prison in May for his role in organising nationwide protests against Russian president Vladimir Putin. He had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities under the slogan "Putin is not our tsar" to protest what he says is the Russian president's autocratic rule.

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Putin, 65, won re-election overwhelmingly in March, extending his grip over Russia for six more years. – Reuters