Kremlin Critic Navalny Sentenced To Nine Years Jail
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW (Worthy News) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent opponent was sentenced Tuesday to nine years in prison after what critics view as a show trial.
Alexei Navalny’s jail term on alleged fraud charges that he calls politically could keep Putin’s influencing critic out of active politics for years ahead.
His supporters had participated in massive protests against the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Thousands of protestors were detained in recent weeks by security forces who, in several cases, were seen beating demonstrators.
Navalny, who was also found guilty of contempt of court, is already serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence at a prison camp east of Moscow for parole violations. They are related to charges he says were trumped up to thwart his political ambitions.
A judge also ordered Navalny to pay a fine of 1.2 million rubles (about $11,500, €10,400).
Both Navalny and rights groups now fear more hardship under authorities serving the increasingly authoritarian President Putin.
Both have said he has been tortured in prison.
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