- Title: UN monitoring closely new verdict due on Putin foe Alexei Navalny
- Date: 4th August 2023
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (FILE - FEBRUARY 20, 2021) (AGENCY POOL) VARIOUS OF NAVALNY IN CAGE LISTENING TO VERDICT
- Embargoed: 18th August 2023 10:15
- Keywords: Alexei Navalny Russia hearing opposition prison sentence trial
- Location: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- City: VARIOUS LOCATIONS
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003226704082023RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The United Nations human rights office said it was "following closely" the case of jailed Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who is expected to face an extended prison sentence when a court delivers its verdict on a battery of new charges against him on Friday (August 4).
Navalny, 47, Russian President Vladimir Putin's fiercest domestic critic, is already serving sentences totalling 11-1/2 years on fraud and other charges that he says are also bogus. His political movement has been outlawed and declared "extremist."
State prosecutors have asked the court to hand him another 20 years in a penal colony on six separate criminal charges, including inciting and financing extremist activity and creating an extremist organisation.
In a message posted on social media on Thursday (August 3), Navalny said the outcome could be slightly less, around 18 years, but it didn't really matter because he was also threatened with terrorism charges that could bring another decade. He said the purpose would be to stun and intimidate Russians, but urged them not to let that happen.
(Production: Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2023. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None