Opponent and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin,Alexei Navalny landed in Moscow on Sunday night. His flight was diverted toanother airport.
Navalny returned to Russia after he faced a poisoningattack in August, despite warnings from officials to arrest him for breakingthe terms of suspended prison sentence.
Navalny's supporters had gathered at the Vnukovo airportof Moscow despite banning the mass gatherings. However, the airplane landed atSheremetyevo airport of Moscow in a flight operated by Russian airline Pobeda,owned by state controlled Aeroflot.
The police detained Navalny's top aided when the planewas still in the air, including activist from Moscow, Lyubov Sobol. As perseveral reports, police have detained around 10 of his supporters.
Navalny spent two months in Germany after suffering apoisoning attack. The flight took off from Berlin's Brandenburg Airport. At thetime of boarding the plane, he spoke with the reporters. He said, "Theywill aresst me? They will arrest me? That's impossible, I'm an innocentperson."
Navalny fell ill on a flight over Siberia in August. Hewas flown out to Berlin in an induced coma. As per western experts and reports, he waspoisoned in August with Soviet-designed nerve toxin Novichok.
Navalny alleged that he was poisoned on the orders ofVladimir Putin. The Kremlin denied any involvement and no probe was launched.
HowNavalny arrested after landing in Russia?
After he landed in Russia, the police officers detained him.Now he has been captivated in a Moscow prison. Russia's prison service in astatement said, they detained Navalny because "he had been wanted sinceDecember 29, 2020 for repeated violations of the probation period" Theprison service added that he will remain in the prison until court orders inhis case.
Navalny says the case against him is politicallymotivated on his conviction for embezzlement.
USand EU bat for Navalny's release:
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State called for Navalny's"immediate and unconditional release." Pompeo also said that effortsare being made to silence Navalny who is a stern ciritc of the RussianPresident.
"The Kremlin's attacks on Mr Navalny are not just aviolation of human rights, but an affront to the Russian people who want theirvoices heard," said Jake Sullivan who is an incoming national advisor ofJoe Biden.
France, Italy and President of European Council, Michelalso demanded Navalny's release from the prison. "Instead of persecutingthe victim of this terrible crime, the Russian authorities should investigatehow a chemical weapon came to be used on Russian soil," said theGovernment of UK in a statement to press. It also added that they are 'deeplyconcerned' about his arrest.