Jailed Russian leader freed on bail after protests

Russia unexpectedly freed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on bail yesterday, bending to the will of thousands of protesters who denounced his five-year jail sentence as a crude attempt by president Vladimir Putin to silence him.

In a ruling that points to Kremlin uncertainty over how to handle Navalny’s case and revived protests, a judge approved an unusual prosecution request to release him while he awaits the outcome of an appeal.

The anti-corruption campaigner’s movements will be restricted to Moscow but he proclaimed the ruling, one day after he was convicted of theft, as a victory for people power.