Russia: Is President Vladimir Putin afraid of Alexey Navalny?

International condemnation is growing over the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny after his return to Moscow.

Navalny spent the last five months in Germany after he was poisoned in an attack he said was ordered by President Vladimir Putin.

The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union are calling for his immediate release.

Germany has described Navalny’s arrest as incomprehensible, while Amnesty International accuses Russia of waging a “relentless campaign” against him.

So, just how much of a challenge is Navalny to President Putin?

Presenter: Kim Vinell

Guests:

Alexander Soloviev – member of the board of Open Russia, an opposition movement.

Sam Greene – director of the Russia Institute at King’s College London.

Vladimir Sotnikov – political scientist at the Russian Academy of Sciences.