Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released after being detained by police amid protests calling for a presidential election boycott.<br />The detention was seen as another crackdown by Russian authorities to try to silence President Putin's most vocal critic.<br />Ro Aram reports.<br /> <br /> Navalny appeared at a rally on Sunday to urge voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March. <br />He was then dragged feet first by police into a patrol van, sparking chaotic scenes.<br />In a tweet soon after he was detained, Navalny encouraged his supporters to join the nationwide protests, which Russian authorities said were illegal. <br />He has since been freed without charge, but his lawyer says will have to appear in court at a later date and may then face charges.<br />That may include illegally organizing a protest, which could see him face 30 days behind bars if found guilty. <br /> Earlier on Sunday, police raided the opposition leader's campaign headquarters in Moscow in what they said was a response to a bomb threat. <br />It came as the office was broadcasting a YouTube video to cover the rallies, which have not been mentioned by Russian state media.<br />Eight staff members were said to have been detained, with computers and cameras also being seized. <br /> The election is expected to be comfortably won by Putin and Navalny has been barred from running.<br />But the Kremlin seems to be weary of Navalny's ability to use social media to mobilize crowds of mostly young protesters in major cities. <br />However, the number of participants who showed up at Sunday's protests were said to be lower than previous demonstrations Navalny had staged....<br /> ..... indicating that momentum may have shifted away from him.<br />Ro Aram, Arirang News. <br />
