Russian opposition chief Alexei Navalny appeared in court docket in Moscow on Friday on costs of insulting a World War II veteran.
The defamation case towards Navalny opened final week, after he was already sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in a separate case.
The outstanding Kremlin critic might face fines, obligatory labor or jail if convicted within the newest case towards him.
What is Navalny accused of?
He is alleged to have slandered members in a video selling reforms to permit Russian President Vladimir Putin to remain in workplace for longer.
Navalny tweeted a clip of the video, describing the individuals who appeared in it as “traitors.”
The individuals who appeared within the video spoke in favor of adjusting Russia’s structure — a change critics say tightened Putin’s stranglehold on energy.
They included a 95-year-old World War II veteran who stated Navalny’s feedback led his well being to deteriorate.
The trial opened final week however was interrupted by the plaintiff’s well being points. Navalny urged the veteran, who participated within the listening to remotely, was mentally unable to comply with the proceedings.
‘Stop shaming yourself’
Wearing a blue hoodie, Navalny appeared in a glass cage for defendants on the Moscow court docket. Riot police surrounded the court docket and arrange cordons.
Navalny’s lawyer Olga Mikhailova urged the choose to permit the media into the courtroom and accused her of bias. Mikhailova requested that the choose be faraway from overseeing the listening to, a request backed by Navalny.
“Stop shaming yourself and enroll in some courses to improve your knowledge of the laws of the Russian Federation,” he stated.
Police seize espresso mug in raid
Ahead of the looks, police carried out a late-night search of Navalny’s headquarters, ending at about 1 a.m. native time.
The scope and nature of proof seized was not instantly clear. However, photographs posted by Navalny’s workers confirmed them bagging a espresso mug.
Police gave no assertion concerning the motive for the search.
In one report, a Navalny workers member stated police claimed they’d been instructed pornography was being printed on the workplace.
Background to the newest trial
Navalny’s lawyer has referred to as the defamation trial one other try to silence his vocal criticism of Putin and his more and more authoritarian regime.
Navalny was arrested on January 17 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport the place he had arrived on a flight from Germany.
He had spent 5 months away from Russia whereas recovering from poisoning with the nerve-agent Novichok that he blames on the Kremlin.
It was alleged that the time he spent in Germany violated a suspended sentence he was given for a money-laundering and fraud conviction. When Navalny left Russia for Germany, he had been rendered unconscious by the poisoning.
The 44-year-old was ordered to serve three-and-a-half years in jail for the supposed violation.
Navalny’s arrest and detention sparked protests all through the nation on two weekends in January, wherein about 10,000 folks had been reported to have been arrested.
