Anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny: Fraud case is ‘political revenge’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The opposition leader Alexei Navalny gave a grand-standing speech in his opening remarks to the provincial court trying him on embezzlement charges. Mr Navalny, an anti-corruption blogger who led street protests against President Vladimir Putin, dismissed the case as “political revenge”.
If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 10 years, but Mr Navalny told the court in Kirov, 600 miles east of Moscow: “The main goal of this trial is to remove me from the electoral process.” Alluding to a recent law which excludes serious offenders from elected office, he added: “The case is absolutely politically motivated, and fabricated. My innocence is visible to everyone regardless of the verdict that this court returns.”
He allegedly embezzled cash from a timber firm while an adviser to Kirov’s regional governor in 2009 in a case seen as part of a crackdown on dissent.
Mr Navalny’s trial resumes today while, in Moscow, a court is due to begin hearing the case against Alexander Lebedev, the Russian businessman and financial backer of The Independent. He is accused of hooliganism and political hatred after throwing a punch during a televised chat show in 2011. If convicted he could be jailed for up to five years. He also describes the charges as politically motivated.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments