Alexei Navalny set to appear before court on charges of defaming WW2 veteran

Noted Kremlin-critic Alexei Navalny
is due to appear before court on Wednesday for defaming a World War II veteran, AFP reported.

Navalny is already facing detention
due to violating a suspended notice in Russia.

Reportedly, as per the Investigation
Committee that probes major crimes in Russia, Navalny accused the veteran and
others featured in a video, which celebrates constitutional amendments allowing
current President Vladimir Putin to stay in office till 2016, as “the shame of
the country” and “traitors” among other things.

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The libel probe for the same was
opened in June 2020. The 44-year-old was attacked with an
almost fatal poison-gas attack in August 2020, which temporarily had resulted
in the suspension of the probe.

While Navalny himself has repeatedly
accused Russian President Vladimir Putin for the attack, Kremlin’s stance has
strictly been that of denial.

A makeshift court in a police station
ordered on Monday for the anti-graft campaigner to be held in custody until February
15.

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Navalny’s lawyer Vadim Kobzev, as per
AFP, said that it was up to the Moscow court hearing the case to make sure he
appeared in front of the judge.

Libel charges in Russia are punishable
by up to five million Rubles ($67,650) as penalty and five years of jail-time.

The critic and his supporters,
however, allege that the case is politically motivated.