This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/30/kremlin-critic-navalny-given-suspended-sentence-brother-jailed
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny given suspended sentence and brother jailed | Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny given suspended sentence and brother jailed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Russian court ruled on Tuesday to give Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny a suspended sentence for embezzling money but jailed his brother for three and a half years. | |
| Navalny led mass protests against President Vladimir Putin three years ago, when tens of thousands took to the streets in Moscow and St Petersburg to protest against corruption in Putin’s government and inner circle. | Navalny led mass protests against President Vladimir Putin three years ago, when tens of thousands took to the streets in Moscow and St Petersburg to protest against corruption in Putin’s government and inner circle. |
| His case has been seen as part of a campaign to stifle dissent. | |
| The Navalny brothers were accused of stealing 30 million roubles, or about £334,000 under the current exchange rate, from two firms, including an affiliate of the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher, between 2008 and 2012. | The Navalny brothers were accused of stealing 30 million roubles, or about £334,000 under the current exchange rate, from two firms, including an affiliate of the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher, between 2008 and 2012. |
| Tuesday’s ruling will come as a relief for Navalny’s supporters after prosecutors asked that he be imprisoned for 10 years. | Tuesday’s ruling will come as a relief for Navalny’s supporters after prosecutors asked that he be imprisoned for 10 years. |
| The Kremlin denies allegations that it uses the courts to persecute opponents. | The Kremlin denies allegations that it uses the courts to persecute opponents. |
| “Aren’t you ashamed of what you are doing?” Navalny told the court and judge Yelena Korobchenko. | “Aren’t you ashamed of what you are doing?” Navalny told the court and judge Yelena Korobchenko. |
| “Why are you putting him [my brother Oleg] in prison? To punish me even harder?” Navalny said. | “Why are you putting him [my brother Oleg] in prison? To punish me even harder?” Navalny said. |
| Currently under house arrest, Alexei Navalny is serving another suspended five-year jail term for a separate conviction last year, which critics also called a sham. | Currently under house arrest, Alexei Navalny is serving another suspended five-year jail term for a separate conviction last year, which critics also called a sham. |
| The verdict announcement was brought forward from next month after Navalny’s supporters announced plans for a large protest on 15 January. | |
| Instead, his supporters have promised to hold a protest on the Manezh Square in front of the Kremlin on Tuesday evening. |