Russia dismisses global criticism over Navalny as interference

Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny was arrested as soon as he set foot back in Russia, returning five months after an alleged poisoning attack.

Russia has dismissed mounting international criticism over the arrest of leading opposition figure Alexey Navalny as interference, saying the case against him was an internal matter. Leaders in several Western countries, many of whom have demanded answers from Russia over the alleged poisoning attack against Navalny in August, have called for the Kremlin critic’s immediate release. Moscow’s latest moves against Navalny add to existing tensions between Russia and the West.