Kremlin Critic Navalny Cuts Off Ankle Bracelet, Renounces House Arrest

Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian blogger and politician, has removed an ankle bracelet meant to enforce his house arrest on trumped up fraud charges.

Reuters reports that in addition to removing the bracelet, Navalny publicly stated that he would not comply with the house arrest sentence.

The fraud charges filed against Navalny were widely understood to be politically motivated because of Navalny made a name for himself uncovering tales of corruption about Russia's political and business elite.

This success enabled him to lead street demonstrations of thousands against President Vladimir Putin in 2011 after Putin won reelection in a contest that many believed was not free and fair. It also allowed him to win nearly a quarter of the vote in Moscow's last mayoral election. 

In the case for which Navalny was sentenced, his brother also faced charges. Although Navalny was placed under house arrest, his brother was sent to prison for three years. Some Russia watchers have suggested that Alexei's brother was arrested rather than Alexei in an effort to forestall popular protests.

This reading of the situation may have some credence, as the government moved up the date of sentencing in the Navalny case by more than a month after a Facebook group organizing a protest in support of the brothers gained thousands of likes and promises to attend.