Nearly 1,400 people were detained in Russia during Tuesday's protests in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, rights monitors say.

In Moscow, riot police were filmed beating demonstrators with batons.

Mr Navalny, 44, was earlier jailed for three-and-a-half years for violating the conditions of a suspended sentence. He says the case was fabricated.

He returned to Russia in January after being treated in Germany for a near-fatal nerve agent attack last August.

Mr Navalny says Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack with the Novichok agent, describing him as a "poisoner". The Kremlin denies the allegation.

The EU, the US and the UK have all condemned Tuesday's court verdict, demanding the opposition leader be immediately released.

Source: BBC News

BDST: 1143 HRS, FEB 03, 2021
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