Support The Moscow Times!

Moscow Court Extends House Arrest of Kremlin Critic Alexei Navalny

Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny (R) talks to his brother and co-defendant Oleg before a court hearing in Moscow on Dec. 19, 2014.

A Moscow court on Friday extended a term of house arrest for Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on trial for stealing more than 30 million rubles ($497,851), charges he dismisses as part of a campaign by President Vladimir Putin to stifle dissent.

Judge Elena Korobchenko endorsed the state prosecutors' motion to extend Navalny's house arrest for another month when the current term expires on Jan. 15. Navalny smiled ironically when the decision was announced.

Navalny and his brother, who is also on trial, are accused of stealing from two firms, including an affiliate of the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher. They deny any wrongdoing.

Navalny, a Western-educated anti-corruption blogger, and his allies ridicule the case as the Kremlin's attempt to mount pressure on critics after he led mass street protests against Putin in 2011 and 2012.

Navalny was sentenced to five years in jail last year for embezzling 16 million rubles in another case Kremlin critics dismiss as trumped-up. His sentence was later suspended.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

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 you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more