RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny arrives in court in Kirov to go on trial on embezzlement charges.

Record ID: 859889

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny arrives in court in Kirov to go on trial on embezzlement charges.
  • Date: 17th April 2013
  • Summary: KIROV, RUSSIA (APRIL 17, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWD OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE ENTRANCE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY WALKING TOWARDS COURTHOUSE, THANKING HIS SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN OPPOSITION LEADER ALEXEI NAVALNY, SAYING (WHILE WALKING): "The forecast is that we will win this trial and we will defeat them and will drive all the swindlers and thieves out of power." NAVALNY ENTERING COURTHOUSE NALALNY ENTERING COURTROOM RUSSIAN COAT OF ARMS ON COURTROOM WALL NAVALNY TURNING HIS HEAD, LOOKING AT PEOPLE IN COURTROOM, TAKING PHOTO WITH HIS PHONE THAT HAS STICKER WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN'S PORTRAIT AND WORD IN RUSSIAN 'THIEF'
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Crime,Politics,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA2NC9CQC7JDC8643G2OA0GZ5KF
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny, looking calm and relaxed, arrived in court on Wednesday (April 17) to go on trial on Wednesday on theft charges which he says are politically motivated and part of a clampdown on dissent by Vladimir Putin.
    The anti-corruption blogger chatted casually with reporters as he entered the court in the city of Kirov 900 km (550 miles) northeast of Moscow, wearing an open-necked shirt and no tie or jacket.
    Navalny, 36, is the most prominent opposition leader to be tried since anti-Putin protests began 16 months ago.
    The protests have faded but rallies are planned in Navalny's support in Moscow and Kirov on Wednesday, although it is not clear whether he has much backing among the wider public.
    Navalny could be jailed for 10 years if convicted of stealing 16 million roubles ($510,000) from a timber firm he was advising in 2009 while working for Kirov's liberal governor.
    "The forecast is that we will win this trial and we will defeat them and will drive all the swindlers and thieves out of power," Navalny said on his way to the courthouse.
    He took a picture of the courtroom with his mobile phone and posted it online. Proceedings then got under way, with the judge asking Navalny to confirm his identity.
    Navalny says the trial in Kirov, a drab city dominated by square and grey Soviet-era buildings, is intended to increase pressure on the opposition following Putin's return to the Kremlin last May after four years as prime minister.
    Navalny denies the theft charges but accuses Putin of orchestrating the trial and says he expects to be convicted. He says the best he can hope for is a suspended sentence although even this would keep him out of elections.
    Navalny started campaigning against state corruption in 2007 and emerged as the most powerful speaker during rallies calling for an end to Putin's long domination of Russia last year.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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