Blinken reacts to Russia, following Navajo prison sentence

The United States says they are deeply concerned about the prison sentence of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny today and reiterated the appeal for his immediate release.

“The United States is deeply concerned by the Russian authorities' decision to condemn the opposition person Navajo to two years and eight months in prison,” said State Secretary Anthony Blinken, Reuters reports.

“Even while working with Russia to advance American interests, we will closely co-ordinate with our allies and partners how Russia can respond to failure to support the rights of its citizens,” said Blinken in a statement.

Navalny's parole sentence of three years and six months was changed to prison, and was reduced to two years and eight months because of the period he spent in house arrest.