Russia Jails Protest Leaders

Two notable opposition figures have been charged with crimes relating to yesterday’s massive election protest in Moscow—even as angry Russians plan for more protests tonight. Ilya Yashin, the leader of the Solidarity movement, was convicted by a judge today of organizing an unauthorized rally and disobeying police orders, and sentenced to 15 days in prison, and anticorruption blogger Alexei Navalny is expected to suffer a similar fate, the New York Times reports.

Protesters camped outside the detention center all night in support of them, and later thronged around the courthouse they were moved to. Facebook messages are swirling promoting another huge election protest tonight in Triumfalnaya square. The Kremlin has responded by staging a rally of 10,000 supporters near the Red Square today. There have also been reports of more troops being bused into Moscow. The Kremlin says it’s just a standard rotation of personnel, but opposition leaders believe it’s a buildup ahead of demonstrations.