'Putin Opponent' Navalny Sentenced to 3 Years and 6 Months... 1,000 Protesters Arrested Again

On the 2nd (local time), at a Moscow court in Russia, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny (second from the right) is seen talking with his lawyer. Navalny was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison after the suspended sentence was revoked in the trial held that day. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was ultimately sentenced to prison after being detained by authorities for two weeks following his return to Russia.

According to foreign media on the 2nd (local time), a Russian court sentenced Navalny to 3 years and 6 months in prison during a hearing to revoke his suspended sentence. This decision cancels the suspended sentence Navalny received in 2014 on embezzlement charges and converts it into a prison term. However, considering that Navalny has already spent 11 months under house arrest, the court stated that he will serve 2 years and 6 months in prison excluding that period. Navalny’s side announced plans to appeal immediately.

During the hearing, authorities focused on questioning why Navalny failed to comply with obligations such as reporting to supervisory authorities twice a month until the end of his probation period last year. In response, Navalny’s side submitted a confirmation letter through their lawyer to the court, arguing that Navalny was unable to comply with reporting requirements due to an extended treatment period at a German hospital following poisoning last year.

Navalny’s side strongly opposed the sentencing result, calling it "a personal political retaliation by President Vladimir Putin." At the hearing, Navalny said, "President Putin is a thief hiding in his bunker," and added, "He feels insulted by the fact that I am still alive." He also referred to the poisoning allegations against him, stating, "What President Putin does every day is only to figure out how to secretly hide chemical weapons in his pants."

International criticism of the ruling also continues. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged, "Immediately release Navalny and hundreds of other Russian citizens who have been unlawfully detained," while British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab criticized, "Today’s ruling shows that the Russian government does not even adhere to basic principles as a member of the international community."

Meanwhile, alongside the hearing, protests demanding Navalny’s release took place in major cities including Moscow and Saint Petersburg. According to the Russian human rights organization OVD-Info, at least 1,054 citizens were arrested by police authorities, with over 860 arrests reported in Moscow alone.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.