Navalny Says Putin Ordered Trial

April 9, 2013

Opposition leader Alexei Navalny said President Vladimir Putin "undoubtedly" ordered an embezzlement trial against him.

Navalny, a lawyer and popular blogger, has exposed official corruption and spearheaded a series of massive protests in Moscow against Putin's return to the presidency. He is to go on trial April 17 on charges of leading an organized crime group that stole timber worth about $500,000 while he worked for a provincial governor.

Navalny said in an interview on Ekho Moskvy radio Monday that "of course, he had no doubts" that Putin gave direct orders to try him.

Scores of opposition activists have faced arrests, searches and criminal inquiries after the anti-Putin rallies.

(AP)

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