Russian opposition leader jailed for 30 days

By Hakan Ceyhan Aydogan

MOSCOW (AA) - A Russian court on Tuesday jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny for 30 days for breaching rally rules.

Navalny was detained Monday after calling to change the anti-Kremlin protest area from approved Sakharov Avenue to "unauthorized" Tverskaya Street in the capital of Moscow.

Russian police on Monday detained more than 600 people during protests, which took place in several cities including Moscow and St. Petersburg, local media reported.

Navalny, the founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and chairman of Russia’s opposition Progress Party, tweeted earlier on Monday that they will "peacefully" gather at Tverskaya Street.

However, Moscow Prosecutor's Office warned against holding an "unauthorized action" on Tverskaya Street, according to TASS.

It said any attempt on Tverskaya Street will be a "direct violation" of the law.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Kremlin does not consider rallies "dangerous", TASS reported Tuesday.

"Holding such events in an agreed manner, as prescribed by law, does not present any danger to anyone. The provocative manifestations are dangerous," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.

He told reporters that law enforcement agencies did everything to ensure law and order during "provocative" actions in a number of Russian cities.

*Diyar Guldogan contributed to this report from Ankara.