Berlin:
Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny flew back to Moscow on Sunday right after spending quite a few months in Berlin recovering from a poisoning attack, risking arrest upon his return.
Navalny’s flight left Berlin’s BER airport at 1417 GMT, AFP journalists on board reported.
The plane is due to arrive at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport about 7:30 pm (1630 GMT) and Navalny has encouraged supporters to meet him when he lands.
Speaking to reporters who crowded about him inside the aircraft, Navalny mentioned he did not worry arrest.
“They will arrest me? That’s impossible, I’m an innocent person,” he mentioned, wearing a face mask.
“I feel I am a citizen of Russia who has the full right to return to his home.”
He expressed a “big thank you” to Germany and mentioned he felt “very, very happy”.
Navalny’s wife Yulia was seated beside him on the flight.
The 44-year-old Kremlin critic fell violently ill on a flight more than Siberia in August and was flown out to Berlin by health-related aircraft in an induced coma.
Western professionals concluded he was poisoned with a Soviet-developed nerve toxin, Novichok. Navalny has mentioned he believes the attack was ordered by President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin has denied involvement.
Russia’s prison service FSIN has mentioned Navalny could face jail time when he arrives back in Moscow for violating the terms of a 2014 suspended sentence he was handed on fraud charges.
The anti-graft campaigner could also face criminal charges below a probe launched by Russian investigators late final year who say he misappropriated more than $4 million worth of donations.
More than 2,000 individuals mentioned in a Facebook occasion that they are arranging to greet Navalny upon his return in spite of temperatures in Moscow hovering about -20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Videos shared on social media showed riot police parked outdoors the airport.
Moscow prosecutors on Friday warned against participating in the “public event” planned at Vnukovo airport, saying it has not been authorised.
The airport told journalists that it will not permit media to work inside, citing coronavirus issues.
Several activists in Saint Petersburg, who have been travelling to greet Navalny, mentioned police prevented them from continuing their journey.
Groups opposed to Navalny are also arranging to show up at the airport.
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