The prosecution in the KirovLes embezzlement case has asked the court to sentence the main defendant, opposition activist Alexei Navalny, and his accomplice Petr Ofitserov to six and five years imprisonment respectively.
Prosecutors accuse Navalny, who worked as a volunteer aide to Kirov region governor Nikita Belykh in 2009, and businessman Pyotr Ofitserov of making KirovLes executives sell 16 million rubles ($500,000) worth of timber to Ofitserov's company VLK at below-market prices.
State prosecutor Sergei Bogdanov said during Friday's court hearing in the provincial city of Kirov that their guilt had been fully established in the course of the trial, Itar-Tass reported Friday.
He also asked the court to take both defendants into police custody in the courtroom, but appealed to the court not to sentence the defendants to any additional punishment after they serve their main prison term.
However, Bogdanov believes the court should order Navalny to pay a fine of 2 million rubles ($60,200), while Ofitserov should be fined 1 million rubles.
In his statement the prosecutor stressed that the two men acted intentionally, being fully aware of the criminal nature of their actions when trading the timber "at deflated prices," Interfax reported.
Bogdanov said the they formed a criminal conspiracy under Navalny's initiative aimed at embezzling the property of KirovLes company. He said their actions posed a threat to society.
The prosecutor noted that Navalny's public activity has drawn much public attention to the trial.
"Nothing could be worse for justice than public opinion preceding a ruling," Bogdanov was quoted as saying.
Critics of the case believe that authorities initiated it to achieve a criminal conviction of Navalny, which would make him ineligible to run in elections. Navalny has announced plans to compete for the post of Moscow mayor in the Sept. 8 race and has voiced presidential ambitions.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
