Russia's Top Opposition Leader Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

Russian Court Jails Putin’s Most Influential Opponent -- Time

There were moments during the trial of Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition movement, when his dark realism seemed to lift, allowing him to believe that the Kremlin would not go so far as to throw its fiercest critic in prison. When we spoke on the phone days before his verdict was read on Thursday he told me, “It sounds crazy, but they seem serious about letting me run for mayor.” The incumbent mayor of Moscow, a diehard ally of Russia‘s President Vladimir Putin, even helped Navalny get on the ballot this week. It had been Navalny’s intention to run in the election in September. But that was all for nothing; on Thursday morning Navalny, together with a co-defendant, was found guilty of embezzling nearly $500,000 during a timber-trading deal. Navalny was sentenced to 5 years in prison. His co-defendant, businessman Pyotr Ofitserov, was given a 4-year sentence. Each man was fined over $15,000.

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More News On Russia's Top Opposition Leader Being Imprisoned For 5 Years

Political Rival of Vladmir Putin Is Given 5 Years in Prison -- Atlantic Wire
Alexei Navalny sentenced to five years in prison -- The Guardian
Russian court convicts anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny -- Washington Post
Russian Court Convicts Opposition Leader -- New York Times
Russia trial: Navalny found guilty of corruption -- BBC
Putin Foe Navalny Convicted Amid Outcry Before G-20 Meeting -- Bloomberg
Leading Russian opposition figure sentenced to 5 years in prison -- FOX News/AP
Conviction of Russian activist Navalny draws condemnation -- Christian Science Monitor
Explainer: What Comes Next For Aleksei Navalny? -- Radio Free Europe
Alexei Navalny jailed: Russia's Mandela moment? -- Daniel Sandford BBC

My Comment: Alexei Navalny was always seen as Putin's main rival. After this verdict .... and imprisonment .... he will not be a factor in Russian politics for the next 5 years .... and more importantly .... not a factor in Russia's next Presidential election (Putin's re-election bid) to be held before he is released.