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Prosecutors seek six years for Putin opponent Navalny | Prosecutors seek six years for Putin opponent Navalny |
(35 minutes later) | |
Russian prosecutors have called for a six-year prison sentence for opposition leader Alexei Navalny on a controversial charge of embezzlement. | Russian prosecutors have called for a six-year prison sentence for opposition leader Alexei Navalny on a controversial charge of embezzlement. |
They stopped short of demanding the maximum term of 10 years at the trial in Kirov, a city 900km (560 miles) north-east of Moscow. | They stopped short of demanding the maximum term of 10 years at the trial in Kirov, a city 900km (560 miles) north-east of Moscow. |
If convicted, he could be kept in prison until after the next presidential election in 2018. | If convicted, he could be kept in prison until after the next presidential election in 2018. |
He denies defrauding a timber firm of 16m roubles (£300,000; $500,000). | He denies defrauding a timber firm of 16m roubles (£300,000; $500,000). |
The 37-year-old anti-corruption campaigner, who inspired mass protests against the Kremlin in December 2011, recently declared he would like to stand for president. | The 37-year-old anti-corruption campaigner, who inspired mass protests against the Kremlin in December 2011, recently declared he would like to stand for president. |
He is currently campaigning for election as mayor of Moscow in September. | He is currently campaigning for election as mayor of Moscow in September. |
"Six years in a standard penal colony and 1m-rouble fine," he tweeted from the courtroom on Friday. | |
Mr Navalny says the case has been fabricated to remove him from politics. No date has been announced yet for the verdict. | |
Looking shocked, he exchanged nervous smiles with his wife Yulia, who then embraced him when a short break in proceedings was declared, Reuters news agency reports from Kirov. | |
"I still hope everything will be fine," Mr Navalny told reporters. | |
The case against him is one of five opened by investigators in the year since Vladimir Putin was re-elected president. | |
He is accused of defrauding the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov's governor, Nikita Belykh. | |
The judge in his trial has not acquitted anyone in more than 130 cases. |