Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny has appeared in a Moscow court for the second time this week, this time on a charge of defaming a Second World War veteran.
The Russian opposition leader, who was ordered earlier this week to serve three and half years in prison, criticised the latest hearing as a “disgusting PR trial” intended by the Kremlin to vilify him.
Last June, Russia’s investigative committee launched an investigation into Mr Navalny on charges of defamation, after the politician called people featured in a video promoting the constitutional reform that allowed an extension to President Vladimir Putin’s office term, “corrupt stooges”, “people without conscience” and “traitors”.
The authorities insisted that Navalny’s comments “denigrate the honour and dignity” of a war veteran featured in the video. If convicted, the opposition leader faces a fine or community service.
“This trial was conceived as some kind of PR trial, because the Kremlin needs headlines, ‘Navalny slandered a veteran’,” Mr Navalny said in the courtroom.
Last month, the 44-year-old Navalny, an anti-corruption investigator and Putin’s most prominent critic, was arrested upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities including President Vladimir Putin have rejected the accusations.
A Moscow court found Navalny violated the probation terms of his suspended sentence from a 2014 money-laundering conviction on February 2, hence his three and half year sentence.
The politician’s arrest and jailing triggered massive protests across Russia, in which tens of thousands took to the streets to demand his release. Many protesters also chanted slogans against President Putin resulting in the detention of thousands of protesters.
There has been widespread backlash from foreign leaders against the Kremlin’s treatment of the opposition leader.
Earlier, US President Joe Biden called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Navalny who he said has “been targeted for exposing corruption.”
French President, Emmanuel Macron also said Navalny’s 3-1/2 year prison term was a “huge mistake” for the stability of Russia.
“The Navalny case is a very serious situation…I think this was a huge mistake even for Russian stability today.”
However, while the EU has imposed sanctions on six senior Russians over Navalny’s poisoning, Macron said that it’s important to remain engaged with Moscow.
“I advocate ongoing dialogue because you have to deal with your history and geography. Russia is part of Europe.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called for the release of Americans detained in Russia during a call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to a statement released by the US State Department, “The Secretary reiterated President Biden’s resolve to protect American citizens and act firmly in defence of U.S. interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies.
“This includes the release of Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed so that they are able to return home to their families in the United States.”
A Russian court in July convicted Trevor Reed, a student at the University of North Texas, of endangering the lives of two police officers while former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was sentenced in June to 16 years in jail for espionage. Both Reed and Whelan deny the charges.
