Photos: Verdict in trial of Putin critic Navalny sparks protest

A woman screams during an unauthorized rally in support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his brother Oleg in central Moscow, December 30, 2014. More than 200 were arrested, as a court gave Alexei a suspended sentence, but sent his brother to jail for three and a half years. Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Getty Images

Policemen gather on Manezhnaya Square, decorated for the holidays, where the protesters had assembled to protest the trial and verdict. Tatyana Makeyeva / Reuters

After the trial was over, Navalny, center, attempted to join the protest but was halted by police officers en route and taken to his apartment where guards were posted outside his door. Anton Belitski / AP

A Navalny supporter is detained during the unauthorized rally. The Kremlin requires a permit for public gatherings of any kind. Sergei Ilnitsky / EPA

Supporters and opponents of Navalny clash during the protest. Ivan Sekretarev / AP

The protesters came to the rally with properly printed matching signs. Yuri Kochetkov / EPA

At the trial earlier in the day, Navalny, second from right, pleaded with the judge as the sentences were read. “Aren’t you ashamed?” he said. “Why are you jailing him?" meaning his brother, Oleg, right, who is generally regarded as a pawn in a larger political game to punish Alexei for his activism. Maxim Shipenkov / EPA

After the reading of the verdict was over, Alexei hugged his brother. Maxim Shipenkov / EPA

Alexei, center, and his wife Yulia, left, comfort Oleg at the end of the trial. Pavel Bednyakov / AP