Opponent and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Alexei Navalny landed in Moscow on Sunday night. His flight was diverted to another airport.
Navalny returned to Russia after he faced a poisoning attack in August, despite warnings from officials to arrest him for breaking the terms of suspended prison sentence.
Navalny's supporters had gathered at the Vnukovo airport of Moscow despite banning the mass gatherings. However, the airplane landed at Sheremetyevo 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 plane was still in the air, including activist from Moscow, Lyubov Sobol. As per several reports, police have detained around 10 of his supporters.
Navalny spent two months in Germany after suffering a poisoning attack. The flight took off from Berlin's Brandenburg Airport. At the time of boarding the plane, he spoke with the reporters. He said, "They will aresst me? They will arrest me? That's impossible, I'm an innocent person."
Navalny fell ill on a flight over Siberia in August. He was flown out to Berlin in an induced coma. As per western experts and reports, he was poisoned in August with Soviet-designed nerve toxin Novichok.
Navalny alleged that he was poisoned on the orders of Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin denied any involvement and no probe was launched.
How Navalny 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 a statement said, they detained Navalny because "he had been wanted since December 29, 2020 for repeated violations of the probation period" The prison service added that he will remain in the prison until court orders in his case.
Navalny says the case against him is politically motivated on his conviction for embezzlement.
US and EU bat for Navalny's release:
Mike Pompeo, US Secretary of State called for Navalny's "immediate and unconditional release." Pompeo also said that efforts are being made to silence Navalny who is a stern ciritc of the Russian President.
"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," said Jake Sullivan who is an incoming national advisor of Joe Biden.
France, Italy and President of European Council, Michel also demanded Navalny's release from the prison. "Instead of persecuting the victim of this terrible crime, the Russian authorities should investigate how a chemical weapon came to be used on Russian soil," said the Government of UK in a statement to press. It also added that they are 'deeply concerned' about his arrest.