Alexei Navalny, Russia's opposition leader, was arrested at his Moscow home Monday and sentenced to 30 days in jail after repeatedly staging rallies, which is against he law.
The arrest came before demonstrators took to the streets to protest corruption in Russia during a Russia Day event, according to BBC News. Riot police detained more than 1,000 demonstrators who were out protesting across Russia.
A BBC correspondent who was among demonstrators in central Moscow said police were "pulling people out at random" and detaining them.
Despite Navalny's attorneys' attempting to get their client's charges dropped, the verdict was announced late Monday.
The 41-year-old leader confirmed the arrest and charges in a Tweet in Russian.
Prior to the arrest, Navalny was set to appear at an "unauthorized" demonstration outside of the country's capital, the BBC said.
The opposition leader urged people to join him in gatecrashing a "historical reenactment fair" in central Russia, which was one of the major Russia Day events that took place on Monday, according to The Guardian.
"I want changes. I want to live in a modern democratic state and I want our taxes to be converted into roads, schools and hospitals, not into yachts, palaces and vineyards," Navalny wrote, encouraging people to protest.
The protests took place as Russian President Vladimir Putin was near the area speaking at a ceremony.
According to The Guardian, protesters walking the streets could be heard chanting “Putin is a thief!” and “Russia without Putin!”
Amid the protests, Russian media chose to highlight Putin's remarks made about students at the ceremony instead of the drama.
“The state’s strength is down to political stability, unity of goals and the consolidation of the country,” Putin said. “Together we have been able to preserve and strengthen our sovereignty.”
Navalny was a lawyer initially, but later became an anti-corruption leader.
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