US calls for Navalny’s immediate release, secretary of state says

The United States urges the Russian authorities to immediately release blogger Alexey Navalny, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said in a statement.

"The United States strongly condemns Russia’s decision to arrest Aleksey Navalny. We note with grave concern that his detention is the latest in a series of attempts to silence Navalny and other opposition figures and independent voices who are critical of Russian authorities," the statement reads. "We urge the Russian government to provide a level playing field for all political parties and candidates seeking to compete in the electoral process. Aleksey Navalny is not the problem. We demand his immediate and unconditional release," Pompeo added.

Navalny, wanted for violating the terms of his suspended sentence in the Yves Rocher case, was detained at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport upon arrival from Berlin on Sunday.