The verdict was handed down to Lefortovo District Court Judge Margarita Kotova, who sentenced her to nine years in prison for “strict administrative deportation” fraud and contempt of court, the Sputnik news agency reported.
The fraud case began more than a year ago. Navalny allegedly stole and used more than 350 million rubles ($ 3.1 million) donated to the Anti-Corruption Foundation for personal use, Sputnik said, referring to the details of the investigation.
His anti-corruption organization called FBK had been named an “extremist organization and foreign agent” last year and was subsequently banned by Russian authorities.
The second indictment concerns Navalny’s alleged insult of a judge Vera Akimovawho sentenced him to 850,000 rubles ($ 7,500) for defaming a World War II veteran, Ignat ArtemenkoSputnik continued to report, adding that the two crimes were investigated separately, but before being brought to court, they were merged into one case.
Russian prosecutors in the case demanded Navalny be sentenced to 13 years in prison and fined 1.2 million rubles ($ 10,600) for fraud and contempt of court.
Meanwhile, Navalny’s lawyer Olga Mikhailova said the court’s decision will be appealed and said: “Of course we will appeal the verdict.”
As a dramatic development, police arrested Navalny’s lawyers later Tuesday because they couldn’t get out of the way, Sputnik reports.
Source: ANI
Source: The Nordic Page
