The trial of Russian rival Alexei Navalny, who is in prison and sentenced to nine years in prison, has been adjourned until May 24, the country’s justice announced today.
An hour after the start of the appeal hearing, the Moscow Court announced that the case was adjourned to May 24 at the request of the defendant.
Navalny, who attended the hearing by video conference behind the bars of his cell, said he wanted to access the audio recording of the case against him in order to compare it with the recordings.
A Moscow court will examine his Russian opponent’s appeal, citing a nine-year sentence handed down in March. His supporters say the allegations are politically motivated.
The call comes at a time when Russian officials were trying to silence what was left of the opposition and Moscow was conducting a military operation in Ukraine. Clashes in the neighboring region have already killed thousands and displaced around 10 million people.
Navalny, one of the foremost critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appeared in court in March to extend his sentence to nine years in prison on charges of fraud and humiliation.
Navalny, wearing a prisoner’s uniform, said he had received the right to be visited by his family next Friday (20), and he did not want to miss this opportunity. Therefore, he explains that he wants the hearing to be postponed.
“They will send me to a colony with a very strict regime,” he added.
If this new sentence is approved, he will be transferred to a prison with less visitation rights.
This sentence will replace the two-year sentence given in February last year. That is, with the time he already spent in prison, Navalny would have to spend another eight years in prison.
‘extremists’
Under new charges, investigators accuse Navalny of stealing millions of dollars for personal use from donations received by his political organizations.
Navalny gained notoriety with a blog in which he denounced the corruption of the Russian elite. He also staged several protests across the country before his arrest.
He tried to run for president in 2018, but was barred from running in the election, where Putin won a fourth term.
Despite the arrest, Navalny’s team continues to publish investigations into the wealth of the Russian elite. His videos get millions of views on YouTube.
In 2020, Navalny recovered from poisoning with a nerve agent. The Kremlin denies the allegations and denies responsibility for the attack.
After receiving treatment in Germany, he returned to Russia in 2021 and was arrested despite widespread international condemnation and sanctions by Western countries.
After his arrest, political organizations affiliated with Navalny were declared “extremist” and banned, forcing many activists associated with him to flee the country.
Russia intensified its pressure by declaring “foreign agents” to independent media outlets and non-governmental organizations. Some decided to shut it down for fear of being sued.
Authorities blocked access to social networks such as Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in order to further control the information that locals access.
source: Noticias
