The Russian justice confirmed Tuesday on appeal the sentence to nine years in prison in a “severe regime” of the main opponent of the Kremlin, Alexei Navalni, tried for “fraud” and “disrespect”.
“The verdict of the Lefortovo court of March 22 has not changed,” a Moscow municipal court judge declared, indicating that it comes “into force immediately.”
In the first instance, on March 22, the charismatic anti-corruption militant, who was already serving a detention sentence in a “normal regime”, was sentenced to nine years in prison in a “severe” regime, where conditions are harsher.
He was accused, among other things, of embezzling millions of rubles from donations to his anti-corruption organizations.
This penalty includes the one imposed in March 2021 for “fraud”, in a case dating back to 2014 and involving the French company Yves Rocher.
The opponent’s lawyers immediately indicated that they would file an appeal against that ruling.
Alexéi Navalni appeared by videoconference from Pokrov prison, 100 km from Moscow, where he was serving his first sentence.
He listened to the verdict carefully and with a sad look.
Called to express himself before the closing of the debates, the opponent did not hesitate in his words, despite several requests for an order by the court.
“I despise your court, your system,” he said, deeming this trial to be “meaningless.”
“Of course I don’t want to be in a cell,” he said. “I would prefer to see my children grow up. But I call on people not to be afraid, to be afraid is a crime against our future,” she continued.
Alexei Navalni had been arrested in January 2021 upon his return from Berlin, where he had spent several months convalescing after a poisoning, for which he holds Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible.
The latter categorically denies this and no investigation has been opened into the case.
The arrest marked the beginning of a massive crackdown on all anti-Kremlin movements and independent media in Russia.
