Alexei Navalny was filmed saying goodbye to his wife and then being led away by authorities in Moscow
Putin critic Alexei Navalny has been detained after flying back to Moscow from Germany, five months after he was nearly killed by a nerve agent attack.
The activist, 44, was led away by police at passport control at Sheremetyevo airport.
Thousands had gathered at a different Moscow airport to greet his flight from Berlin, but the plane was diverted.
Mr Navalny blames Russian authorities for the attempt on his life last year. The Kremlin denies any role.
The opposition politician’s allegations have however been backed up by reports from investigative journalists.
News of Mr Navalny’s detention prompted condemnation from the European Union, France and Italy, which called for his immediate release.
US President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming national security adviser echoed the call. “The Kremlin’s attacks on Mr Navalny are not just a violation of human rights, but an affront to the Russian people who want their voices heard,” Jake Sullivan said.
How did events unfold?
When Mr Navalny was poisoned last August and collapsed on an internal flight in Siberia, he was flown to Germany for emergency medical treatment. As he recovered, he said he intended to return to Russia.
On Sunday he made good on that pledge, boarding a Pobeda Airlines flight despite warnings he would face arrest on landing.
The plane was packed with journalists, including Andrey Kozenko of the BBC Russian Service. Shortly before landing, the pilot announced that for “technical reasons”, the plane was being diverted from Vnukovo airport to Sheremetyevo airport, causing a stir among the passengers.
“I know that I’m right. I fear nothing,” Mr Navalny told supporters and the media upon landing, just minutes before he was detained. “Have you been waiting for me long?” he asked border guards.
He kissed his wife Yulia – who had flown with him from Germany – after police officers warned they would use physical force if he disobeyed their orders to come with them. Despite pleas, Mr Navalny’s lawyer was not allowed to accompany him.
The activist is being held at a police station in Moscow.
Earlier on Sunday, extra riot police were deployed and metal barriers erected inside Vnukovo airport, where the plane was originally scheduled to land.
Russian media reported that a number of activists – including key Navalny ally Lyubov Sobol – had been detained.
Why was Navalny detained?
In a statement late on Sunday, Russia’s prison service said the opposition leader “had been wanted since 29 December 2020 for repeated violations of the probation period”. It added that he would remain in custody until a court decision.
The authorities accuse him of violating conditions imposed after a conviction for embezzlement, for which he received a suspended sentence. He has always said the case was politically motivated.
Separately, Russian prosecutors have launched a new criminal case against Mr Navalny on fraud charges related to transfers of money to various charities, including his Anti-Corruption Foundation.
The activist earlier argued that Mr Putin was doing all he could to stop him from returning to Russia by fabricating new cases against him. (BBC)
