Russian prison officials said Tuesday that they have fitted opposition leader Alexei Navalny with an electronic bracelet to monitor his activities for the next two months while he is under house arrest.
“An electronic bracelet was put on Navalny on Monday evening, via which employees of the penal inspectorate will monitor compliance with the terms of house arrest,” a Federal Penitentiary Service spokeswoman said.
The anti-Kremlin activist is forbidden from leaving his residence — an apartment in the Moscow suburbs ?€” and from using the Internet, telephone or any other means of communication with the world outside of his family, lawyers and police investigators until April 28. Navalny, who was permitted to return home Monday after spending a week in detention for taking part in an unsanctioned street protest, was ordered to be put under house arrest by a Moscow court last week. The court ruled that he had repeatedly violated an agreement not to leave the capital during a separate criminal investigation against him.
The opposition politician, who played a leading role in mass street protests against President Vladimir Putin in the winter of 2011 to 2012, is under investigation together with his brother Oleg for allegedly embezzling money from cosmetics company Yves Rocher.
Navalny is also serving a five-year suspended sentence for an embezzlement conviction in a separate case that he claims was fabricated in retribution for his opposition activities.