Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny walked out of a Moscow detention centre on Friday and said Russia's opposition would continue to challenge President Vladimir Putin, uncowed by last week's killing of prominent opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.
But Navalny, who paid a visit to Nemtsov's grave in late afternoon, and other opposition leaders face a tough task marshalling support beyond Russia's small urban middle-class, especially as they are largely excluded from state media and divided among themselves.
Nemtsov's allies say his killing was a political act aimed at intimidating them. Putin has called it a shameful tragedy and says he will do everything possible to ensure the perpetrators are found and punished.
"There will be no let-up in our efforts, we will give up nothing. This act of terror has not achieved its goal in this sense," Navalny said after leaving the detention centre through a green metal gate, carrying his belongings in a black sports bag.
Nemtsov was a liberal who had served as deputy prime minister in the 1990s but became a staunch critic of Putin. He was shot by an unknown assailant last Friday night within sight of the Kremlin walls, becoming the most prominent opposition figure to be killed during Putin's 15-year rule.
New Reality
Putin began a third presidential term in 2012 and has strengthened his grip on power. Actions like the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine have triggered Western sanctions but boosted his popularity, currently running above 80 percent.
The opposition is divided into small groups who lack a single leader or programme and often disagree on strategy and tactics, resisting efforts to bring them together in one force.
Responding to a greeting from Navalny on Twitter after leaving detention, opposition activist Nikolai Levshits tweeted:
"Congratulations on returning to the new reality :((("
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