Alexei Navalny. Photograph by MItya Aleshkovskiy
Alexei Navalny, one of President Putin’s greatest critics, has been found guilty of theft and embezzlement and jailed for five years in Russia.
The anti-corruption campaigner maintains his innocence and claims that the trial was politically motivated due to his opposition to the Russian leader. He had been leading a campaign against Putin’s United Russia party and has regularly blogged about alleged corruption by government officials and prominent figures since 2008.
Navalny was found guilty of embezzling timber worth 16 million rubles (£330,000) from the state timber company, Kirovles, whilst working there as an advisor. Pyotr Ofitserov, Navalny’s co-accused, was also found guilty of embezzlement and sentanced to four years in prison.
Navalny had previously indicated that he intended to run for the presidency in the future, and had already submitted his application to run for Mayor of Moscow, although neither are likely now possible.
The European Union have condemned the verdict, saying that it brings into question the legitimacy of the Russian judicial system, and Navalny’s supporters have vowed to stage protests to call for his release later today.