Russia Navalny: Jailed opposition leader found guilty in trial branded ‘sham’

Russia’s most prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has been found guilty in a fraud trial on charges rejected by supporters as fabricated.

Navalny was jailed when he returned to the country last year, after surviving a poisoning he blames on the Kremlin.

He was initially given three and a half years in a penal colony for breaking bail conditions while in hospital.

Prosecutors now want him to serve another 13 years on accusations of fraud and contempt of court.

They accused him of stealing $4.7m (£3.5m) of donations given to his now banned political organisations.

Delivering her verdict, Judge Margarita Kotova said Navalny had carried out “the theft of property by an organised group”. She also found him guilty of contempt of court.

A visibly gaunt Navalny folded his arms and exchanged comments with his lawyer as the ruling was read out.

www.bbc.co.uk