Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny freed on bail
Alexei Navalny, right, and Pyotr Ofitserov were released as soon as the decision was announced
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been freed from jail pending an appeal, a day after being sentenced to five years for embezzlement.
The court ruled that keeping him in custody would deprive him of his right to stand in the mayoral elections in Moscow in September.
Thousands of Russians protested against his conviction on Thursday, saying it was politically motivated.
Navalny is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Travel restrictions
The three judges in the Kirov Regional Court decided that, as Navalny had not breached his bail conditions during the trial, he should allowed to await the appeal decision at home in Moscow.
Navalny and his co-accused Pyotr Ofitserov were immediately released, and Navalny embraced his wife Yulia.
He then vowed to continue to pursue his Moscow mayoral candidacy.
It was not just the defence pleading Navalny's case. In an unexpected move, prosecutors also pushed for him to remain free, with travel restrictions, pending his appeal.
Analysts said this could be an attempt by officials to soothe public anger over the case.
The guilty verdict against him on Thursday led to violent scuffles, as thousands of people took to the streets in Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities in protests that continued late into the evening. Reports said dozens were detained by police.
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