OPPOSITION LEADER UDALTSOV COMMENTS AFTER BEING RELEASED

Описание: (23 May 2012) Opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov joined his supporters early on Thursday (late on Wednesday GMT) after he was released from the jail where he had been held under arrest for 15 days.
Speaking to the crowd outside the the detention centre where he had been held, Udaltsov called for further non-violent protests against President Vladimir Putin.
"We want to rule here ourselves, we want to own the country. We earned the right to do that," Udaltsov said.
Trying to intimidate opponents of Putin's 12-year rule, police detained Sergei Udaltsov on May 9 in the centre of Moscow, where opposition activists were attempting an unauthorised protest.
Authorities have threatened others with reprisals and proposed legislation introducing a 300-fold increase in the fine for taking part in unsanctioned rallies, as part of a broadening crackdown on the opposition.
Along with popular blogger and anti-corruption lawyer, Alexei Navalny, Udaltsov was sentenced to 15 days in jail for disobeying police following the May rallies that ended in clashes.
His lawyer Violetta Volkova said that the kind of arrests Udaltsov was subjected to are illegal and the authority is using them to pressurise opposition activists.
Around 100 people were gathered outside the detention centre, shouting "Udaltsov! Udaltsov!", "Russia will be free!" and clapping.
No one was arrested.


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