By Emre Gürkan Abay
MOSKOW (AA) - Days before a planned protest, a Moscow court sentenced opposition leader Alexey Navalny to 20 days in prison for his calls to attend "unauthorized" rallies.
Navalny, founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation and head of Russia’s opposition Progress Party, had been detained last week.
Speaking in court, Navalny said his arrest was a "gift" for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We do nothing illegal," he added.
He was planning a rally in St Petersburg on Oct. 7, Putin's 65th birthday.