A Russian court on Tuesday found President Putin’s most vocal domestic critic Alexei Navalny guilty on embezzlement charges that could see his prison sentence significantly extended as the Kremlin is working hard to silence any critical voice within the country against its policies.
As per media reports, judge Margarita Kotova who is hearing the matter said, “Alexei Navalny committed fraud— the theft of property by an organised group and is also guilty of contempt of court,”.
Alexei Navalny had been tried at a prison far away from the capital where he is already serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence. In the hearing, Navalny appeared in the makeshift courtroom with journalists watching via a video link. Russian authorities have accused Alexei Navalny of stealing for personal use several million dollars worth of donations that were given to his political outfit.
Government authorities had demanded through the prosecutor to extend the sentence to 13-year and transfer him to a “strict regime” penal colony, effectively meaning harsher jail rules. According to experts the corruption charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, while contempt of court is punishable by up to six months as per Russian laws.
Alexei Navalny, a lawyer, and anti-corruption activist had been Putin’s most vocal domestic opponent. The leader came into international prominence by organizing anti-government demonstrations and running for office to advocate reforms against corruption in Russia, and against President Vladimir Putin and his government. Navalny was a Russian Opposition Coordination Council member. He has been behind bars since returning to Moscow in January 2021 from Germany, where he was recovering from a poisoning attack with a nerve agent that he blames on the Kremlin.