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Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was released from police custody late on Sunday after a brief appearance at a rally in Moscow calling for the boycott of a March presidential election that he said would be a rigged.
Navalny's lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, told Reuters that her client had been released without charge but would have to face court at a later date.
If charged with violating laws on holding demonstrations, Navalny could face up to 30 days in jail.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny
Navalny also confirmed on his Twitter account that he was released until a court hearing, but has not provided more details on the hearing.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Russia calling on their countrymen to boycott March's presidential election.
The rallies were organized by opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was dramatically arrested as he made his way to one of the protests. Riot police surrounded him in front of television cameras, and then bundled him into the back of a van.
His detention did not deter his supporters though. In Moscow, thousands took to the streets chanting "Putin is a thief."
Across the country, more than 240 people were arrested, according to an independent monitoring group.
The protesters vented their frustration that anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has been barred from standing in the March presidential polls, due to his conviction of fraud.
Supporters of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny shout slogans during a rally for a boycott of a March 18 presidential election in Moscow, Russia,
January 28, 2018.
His supporters say the charges were politically-motivated and trumped up to prevent him from being on the ballot.
But the Kremlin has called the protests "illegal" and accused Navalny of trying to create instability ahead of the polls.
They are unlikely to affect the election outcome: President Putin still enjoys high approval ratings, far higher than any of the opposition candidates who have been allowed to run.
Despite chaotic scenes of some protesters being dragged away by riot police, for the most part, the rallies were peaceful.
(CGTN)
