Protests put down in Russia after dissenter sentenced
Police officers detain an opposition supporter during an unauthorized rally in support of Alexei and Oleg Navalny in central Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
Russia's top opposition leader Alexei Navalny on December 30, 2014, called for mass protests to "destroy" President Vladimir Putin's regime after a court handed him a suspended sentence and jailed his brother in a controversial fraud case.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Police officers detain an opposition supporter during an unauthorized rally in support of Alexei and Oleg Navalny in central Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, center, appeals to the judge as his wife Yulia comforts him hearing the court verdict in Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
A Russian court ruled on Tuesday to give Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny a suspended sentence for embezzling money but jailed his brother, Oleg, for three and a half years in a case seen as part of a campaign to stifle dissent.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Russian anti-Kremlin opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, listens to his brother and co-defendant Oleg as they attend the verdict announcement of their fraud trial at a court in Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
Navalny called for mass protests to "destroy" President Vladimir Putin's regime after a court handed him a suspended sentence but jailed his brother.
In a lightning hearing that was abruptly brought forward by two weeks, a judge found both Navalny and his brother Oleg guilty of embezzlement and sentenced the siblings to three and a half years in what is widely seen as a politically motivated case.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Alexei Navalny, front, Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger, walks to attend an opposition rally in Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
Navalny was detained by police after breaking house arrest on Tuesday to join an opposition rally in Moscow.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Police officers stand guard next to a courthouse in Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014, during the verdict announcement in a Russian opposition leader's fraud trial.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Police officers detain an opposition supporter during an unauthorized rally in support of Alexei and Oleg Navalny in central Moscow after Alexei Navalny called for mass protests to "destroy" President Vladimir Putin's regime after a court handed him a suspended sentence and jailed his brother in a controversial fraud case.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Policemen block supporters of Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny during a rally in protest against court verdict at Manezhnaya Square in Moscow, Dec. 30, 2014.
Navalny broke house arrest to join the rally but was swiftly detained and driven back home by police. Police dispersed the protest after two hours, detaining more than 100 people.
Protests in Russia follow conviction of Putin critic
Russian President Vladimir Putin signs autographs on a photo book after a New Year reception in Moscow's Kremlin, Dec. 26, 2014.