European Commission calls for immediate release of Alexei Navalny

The European Commission has called for the release of opposition leader AlexeiNavalny after he was detained upon returning to his country.

Mr Navalny flewto Russia from Germany, where he had spent five months recovering from nerveagent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

He was detained at passportcontrol at Sheremetyevo airport after flying in Sunday evening from Berlin,where he was treated following the poisoning in August.

Mr Navalny’s arrestprompted a wave of criticism from US and European officials, adding toexisting tension between Russia and West.