Moscow court upholds Putin critic Alexei Navalny’s jail term
- Judge Dmitry Balashov dismissed Navalny's appeal of a decision to hand him a prison sentence
- Navalny was ordered on February 2 to serve two years and eight months for breaching his parole terms
- He described the legal process to jail him "absurd"
A Moscow judge on Saturday upheld the order to jail Alexei Navalny, leader of the opposition against President Vladimir Putin, as he lost two court cases in one day and was headed for more than two years in a penal colony and a big fine.
In the first hearing on Saturday, Judge Dmitry Balashov dismissed Navalny’s appeal of a decision to hand him a prison sentence for violating the terms of a suspended sentence on embezzlement charges he says were politically motivated.
Navalny, 44, was ordered on February 2 to serve two years and eight months in a penal colony for breaching his parole terms while he was recovering from poisoning in Germany.
The anti-corruption campaigner appeared in court inside a glass cage for defendants, wearing a plaid shirt, smiling and flashing the V for victory symbol.
In a closing address that often broke from his usual sarcastic tone, Navalny referenced the Bible and said he had no doubts about his decision to return to Russia.
“The Bible says: ‘Blessed are those who hunger for righteousness, for they will be satisfied,'” he told the court, AFP reported.
“I have no regrets that I am back,” he added.
He also quoted from a character in the Harry Potter books, saying it was “important not to feel alone” because that was what the series’ villain Voldemort wanted.
Also read: Alexei Navalny supporters stage flash mobs, light phone flashlights on Valentine’s Day
He described the legal process to jail him “absurd” and called on Russians to take action to make the country a better place.
“Russia should be not only free, but also happy,” Navalny said.
Prosecutors said Navalny had acted as if he was above the law and had “an exclusive right to do as he pleases”.
The judge decided to count six weeks Navalny was under house arrest as part of the time served, so he will now be imprisoned for just over two-and-a-half years.
Hours later another judge convicted Navalny of defamation for calling a World War II veteran a “traitor” for appearing in a pro-Kremlin video.
Judge Vera Akimova ordered him to pay a fine of 850,000 rubles ($11,500/9,500 euros).
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