Kremlin critic Navalny leaves Germany for Russia

Leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny departed from Berlin airport on Sunday to return to Russia after recovering in Germany from his poisoning by a nerve agent in August. Navalny boarded a plane scheduled to take off at 1418GMT with his wife where he spoke to reporters on board. Navalny announced Wednesday that he would return, despite Russian authorities' threats to put him behind bars again.

On Thursday, Russia's prison service said that he faces immediate arrest once he returns. Navalny, who has blamed his poisoning on the Kremlin, charged that Russian President Vladimir Putin was now trying to deter him from coming home with new legal motions. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied a role in the opposition leader’s poisoning.