Russian opposition leader jailed after organizing anti-corruption protests

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been jailed after being arrested Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Navalny, who was arrested while walking to a protest in the capital city of Moscow, has been jailed for 15 days for resisting police orders.

Hundreds of people were arrested across Russia on Sunday when protests erupted against corruption.

Navalny and his associates reportedly organized the protests as demonstrators urged Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to resign following allegations of corruption.

{mosads}Five hundred demonstrators were reportedly arrested throughout the country during the protests.

The AP reported that about 5,000 protesters took to the streets in St. Petersburg, with some holding signs urging President Vladimir Putin to resign.

On Sunday, the State Department responded to the protests in a statement.

“The United States strongly condemns the detention of hundreds of peaceful protesters throughout Russia on Sunday,” acting spokesman Mark Toner said.

“We were troubled to hear of the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny upon arrival at the demonstration, as well as the police raids on the anti-corruption organization he heads,” he continued.

“The United States will monitor this situation, and we call on the government of Russia to immediately release all peaceful protesters. The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve a government that supports an open marketplace of ideas, transparent and accountable governance, equal treatment under the law, and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution.”