"Prominent Russian Anticorruption Campaigner Detained" is an article published by the Wall Street Journal today. "Yevgeny Urlashov Says He is a Victim of Kremlin Crackdown on Opposition" the subheading reads.
"MOSCOW—An anticorruption campaigner who defeated a pro-Kremlin candidate in a landslide last year to become one of the few opposition mayors to lead a major Russian city has been detained on suspicion of soliciting a 14 million ruble ($421,000) bribe," the article describes the situation.
"Mr. Urlashov and three of his deputies are accused of threatening to stop paying a local businessman for a city trash-hauling contract unless he gave them a substantial kickback, Russia's Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee said." At the same time, "Mr. Urlashov denied wrongdoing and insisted the case was being pushed by his political opponents. He supports billionaire Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov's Civil Platform party, which was considered a strong contender for taking control of the regional assembly from the ruling United Russia party in elections in September."
"Mr. Urlashov, who sits on Civil Platform's governing committee, was taken into custody early Wednesday morning after being stopped at a roadblock," says the article with reference to his spokesman.
Mr. Urlashov's attorney, Mikhail Pisarets, said his client would plead not guilty and was refusing to cooperate with investigators. He will be held for 48 hours while a judge decides whether to place him under arrest.
"Such a demonstrative seizure of a leader elected by the people of a city is a blow to the civil liberties of every citizen of Russia," Mr. Prokhorov said. "It is obvious that this nighttime show with masked men dragging people from cars had the single purpose of intimidating Yevgeny and all other independent politicians and active citizens in Russia," the article quotes Mr. Prohkorov who support the mayor.
