Released to applause, the moment Alexei Navalny walks free from a Moscow court just one day after being sentenced to five years in jail.<br/> <br />Navalny maintains he did nothing wrong and that the sentence is intended by Putin to sideline him as a potential political rival.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PROTEST LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I am not their pet kitten or puppy whom they can throw out of the elections and say 'you will not take part' and then decide 'okay, let him in for a month to take part in the elections.' I will now return to Moscow and will discuss everything with my electoral campaign staff."<br/> <br />The court approved an unusual prosecution request to release him while he awaits the outcome of an appeal.<br/> <br />Navalny was convicted on Thursday of stealing at least 494,000 USD from a timber firm when he was advising the Kirov regional governor in 2009.<br/> <br />The verdict immediately attracted widespread criticism, with thousands taking to the streets of Ru
