MOSCOW SEEKS MORE JAIL TIME FOR NAVALNY

MOSCOW russian state prosecutors said they would ask a court on Tuesday to jail opposition politician Alexei Navalny for up to three-anda-half years, and the Kremlin said it would not listen to u.s. criticism.

riot police detained more than 5,300 in protests across russia on Sunday calling for the release of Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin who was detained last month.

The case has set off new talk of Western sanctions on russia and raised tension as u.s. President Joe biden launches his administration.

Sunday’s rallies prompted u.s. Secretary of State Antony blinken to condemn what he said was the persistent use of harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists, and to call for Navalny’s release.