In a video that is making rounds on the internet, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was caught aiming several 'heart' gestures to his wife during a court session in which he was sentenced to over two and a half years in prison on February 2 The video showed the opposition leader smiling, shrugging and aiming several heart gestures to his wife Yulia from the court’s glass enclosure, leaving netizens emotional. Take a look here: Alexey Navalny makes a heart gesture as his wife and supporters look on while a Russian court orders the opposition leader to more than two years in a prison camp. pic.twitter.com/kb5Q7pGrpl — ABC News (@ABC) February 2, 2021 Many condemned the court ruling and lauded Navalny for his bravery and the gesture for his wife. Take a look at some of the reactions here: What courage . — Mary Jane Bryksa (@MaryJaneBryksa) February 3, 2021 Amazing and that is a heart, that is from a real hero. — lacy (@lacyl21) February 2, 2021 From Russia With Love? — Blue West (@BlueWest18) February 3, 2021 This is so sad! He is a really nice guy and does not deserve this! #FreeAlexyNavalny — Annie Hall* (@PWesterner) February 2, 2021 This broke my heart. — tweetiepie2 (@tweetiepie210) February 3, 2021 This man is a hero and I pray so hard to the universe for this man's safety. — TjTeej (@TamienotTammy) February 3, 2021 Alexey and his wife are both amazingly strong. Thy are amazing and give me hope of morality in this world. I am also scared to death for him. — Mrs. McDougal (@LisaMcDougal13) February 3, 2021 Heartbreaking — jackie nedell (@jacksrose) February 3, 2021 The two of them are something Handsome loving symbol of hope — bgappl07 (@bgappl07) February 3, 2021 Praying for this man. — Jordan (@jimmyjams1989) February 3, 2021 God love them! Brave, brave man and his courageous wife! I hope that the World leaders support this man and call for his release! Prayers — marguerite Ann mulcahy (@margueriteAnnm2) February 3, 2021 A human! 🤍 — Tajalithaca (@Tajalithaca) February 3, 2021 May the Spirits of light surround and protect Navalny ❤️💙✨✨✨🙏Namaste — Tere (@Teram323Tere) February 3, 2021 He has more courage than every Republican in congress — Athena (@Demteacher) February 3, 2021 Tears are falling freely — Brigitte Turi (@brigitte_turi) February 2, 2021 The guy has courage I can't even fathom. He KNEW this is what would happen when he returned. And yet he risked it for the love of his country. — Dirk G (@DabneyDoRight) February 2, 2021 Very brave man fighting for human rights god help him my heart go out for him 🥰♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️#AlexeiNavalny✌🏼🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👍👍👍👍 — grace sing (@hotgrace1) February 2, 2021 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ The world stands with #AlexeiNavalny — dgatterdam (@dgatterdam) February 2, 2021 A Moscow court sentenced Navalny to two years and eight months in a prison colony for violating parole from a 2014 sentence for embezzlement in a case which he said was politically motivated. The 44-year-old’s original 3 1/2-year sentence was reduced by the 10 months he spent under house arrest in the case. He was arrested upon returning to Russia in January after surviving a suspected assassination attempt back in August 2020 that he and his allies blamed on Putin’s security services. Post the verdict, thousands of people joined in on unsanctioned protests across the country with more than 5000 people detained, according to OVD-Info, a group tracking political arrests.
