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MOSCOW: Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Tuesday resumed his authorized attraction in opposition to a nine-year jail sentence that he and his allies condemn as politically motivated.
Navalny joined the listening to at a Moscow court docket through video-link from behind bars at his jail colony as he appeals in opposition to the extension of his present jail time period.
Sporting a black prisoner uniform and a fur-collared winter jacket, he appeared composed and joked about issues with the sound system.
The hearings began final week however Navalny was granted every week’s postponement so he may have a household go to.
The hearings come as Russian authorities search to silence remaining authorities critics and Moscow pushes on with its army marketing campaign in neighbouring Ukraine.
A vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Navalny in late March had his jail time prolonged to 9 years after he was discovered responsible of embezzling donations to his political organisations and contempt of court docket.
His lawyer Olga Mikhailova informed the court docket the sentence needs to be annulled as it’s “unjust” and “contradicts worldwide legislation”, whereas the prosecutor referred to as it “authorized and justified”.
Navalny informed the court docket his case was heard in jail on the pretext of Covid restrictions though the related Moscow court docket was functioning.
“The Covid restrictions solely utilized to me,” he mentioned.
He additionally alleged his authorized group “caught decide (Margarita) Kotova proper in the course of the trial calling somebody from the presidential administration”.
Navalny is already serving two-and-a-half years in a jail round 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Moscow for violating parole on outdated fraud expenses.
If his new sentence comes into pressure, the 45-year-old shall be transferred to a strict-regime penal colony with harsher circumstances, together with fewer household visits.
His authorized group are contesting this, saying he’s being wrongly handled as a repeat offender.
The brand new sentence would exchange the one he was handed in February 2021, which means Navalny would stay behind bars for an additional eight years.
Navalny rose to prominence as an anti-corruption blogger and, earlier than his imprisonment, mobilised anti-government protests throughout Russia.
In 2020, he narrowly survived a poisoning assault with Novichok, a Soviet-designed military-grade nerve agent. Regardless of accusations from Navalny, the Kremlin denied any involvement.
He was arrested final yr on his return from remedy in Germany, sparking widespread condemnation overseas and sanctions from Western capitals.
Navalny’s political organisations throughout the nation have since been declared “extremist” and shut down.
His key allies have fled Russia and several other are wished by Russian authorities on prison expenses.
Navalny joined the listening to at a Moscow court docket through video-link from behind bars at his jail colony as he appeals in opposition to the extension of his present jail time period.
Sporting a black prisoner uniform and a fur-collared winter jacket, he appeared composed and joked about issues with the sound system.
The hearings began final week however Navalny was granted every week’s postponement so he may have a household go to.
The hearings come as Russian authorities search to silence remaining authorities critics and Moscow pushes on with its army marketing campaign in neighbouring Ukraine.
A vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Navalny in late March had his jail time prolonged to 9 years after he was discovered responsible of embezzling donations to his political organisations and contempt of court docket.
His lawyer Olga Mikhailova informed the court docket the sentence needs to be annulled as it’s “unjust” and “contradicts worldwide legislation”, whereas the prosecutor referred to as it “authorized and justified”.
Navalny informed the court docket his case was heard in jail on the pretext of Covid restrictions though the related Moscow court docket was functioning.
“The Covid restrictions solely utilized to me,” he mentioned.
He additionally alleged his authorized group “caught decide (Margarita) Kotova proper in the course of the trial calling somebody from the presidential administration”.
Navalny is already serving two-and-a-half years in a jail round 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Moscow for violating parole on outdated fraud expenses.
If his new sentence comes into pressure, the 45-year-old shall be transferred to a strict-regime penal colony with harsher circumstances, together with fewer household visits.
His authorized group are contesting this, saying he’s being wrongly handled as a repeat offender.
The brand new sentence would exchange the one he was handed in February 2021, which means Navalny would stay behind bars for an additional eight years.
Navalny rose to prominence as an anti-corruption blogger and, earlier than his imprisonment, mobilised anti-government protests throughout Russia.
In 2020, he narrowly survived a poisoning assault with Novichok, a Soviet-designed military-grade nerve agent. Regardless of accusations from Navalny, the Kremlin denied any involvement.
He was arrested final yr on his return from remedy in Germany, sparking widespread condemnation overseas and sanctions from Western capitals.
Navalny’s political organisations throughout the nation have since been declared “extremist” and shut down.
His key allies have fled Russia and several other are wished by Russian authorities on prison expenses.
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