Russia has expelled three diplomats who it says took part in unauthorized protests in support of Mr Navalny, who has been jailed for 2.5 years for fraud.

He was back in court today on a separate charge from Moscow.

Steve Rosenberg reports it's becoming a familiar sight.

President Putin's nemesis on trial, Alexander finally had already been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison this week for a parole violation.

Slander was the charge.

Now, he insists its political persecution.

Our appeal toe his release across town, the EU's foreign policy chief was calling for Mr Navalny's release didn't go down well.

First, Russia's foreign minister called the you on unreliable partner on accused courts in the West of political verdicts.

Then his ministry expelled three U diplomats claiming that attended rallies in support of Mr Navalny three.

You condemned the move.

Moscow expected international outrage over the jailing of Alexander violence.

There's talk in the West of possible measures that would target Vladimir Putin's inner circle.

The Kremlin, though, has long taken the view that sticks and stones may break its bones, but sanctions will never hurt it.

Meanwhile, Mr Navalny's supporters have decided to pause their protests until the spring.

Let's stop In the last two weeks across Russia, thousands of protesters have being detained with police cells full in Moscow.

Hundreds have been locked up in this deportation center like Dimitri and Sergei, who we managed to contact.

Sergei on the left, is a journalist.

He wasn't at the protests, but he retweeted a post about UM and was jailed for 25 days.

Theo authorities see journalists as part of the protest movement.

Now, Sergei says, we're coming under pressure.

Outside the makeshift jail, people have been queuing for hours in the cold to deliver food parcels to their loved ones.

E used to vote for Putin, says Yulia, whose husband was arrested.

I never will again.

Russian authorities.

Concrete's Down on dissent What they can't do is force people to stay loyal to the Kremlin.