Wednesday, May 22nd 02:42 PM IST
Vladimir Putin IMAGE.
Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny  leaves the offices of the Russian Investigation committee in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Russia's top investigative agency says it has opened a new criminal probe against opposition leader Alexei Navalny on allegations of theft. The 36-year-old corruption-fighting lawyer and popular blogger has played a key role in rallying Russia's young Internet generation against Vladimir Putin's rule.

Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny leaves the offices of the Russian Investigation committee in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Russia's top investigative agency says it has opened a new criminal probe against opposition leader Alexei Navalny on allegations of theft. The 36-year-old corruption-fighting lawyer and popular blogger has played a key role in rallying Russia's young Internet generation against Vladimir Putin's rule.