Ally of jailed Kremlin critic Navalny calls off protests for now

FILE PHOTO: A still image taken from video footage shows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is accused of flouting the terms of a suspended sentence for embezzlement, inside a defendant dock during the announcement of a court verdict in Moscow, Russia February 2, 2021. Press service of Simonovsky District Court/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW (Reuters) - An associate of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Thursday his allies would not be holding street protests in the immediate future, toning down the rhetoric following mass rallies across Russia and thousands of arrests.

A Russian court sentenced Navalny on Tuesday ignoring warnings from the West in a ruling the opposition politician blamed on President Vladimir Putin's personal hatred and fear of him.