Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny convicted

Russian anti-corruption campaigner and protest leader Alexei Navalny was found guilty of embezzlement on the 18 July 2013, in a trial he claimed was politically motivated.

Alexei Navalny was a Moscow mayoral candidate and vocal Kremlin critic.

The judge jailed him for five years. Supporters of Mr Navalny said the court case and sentence proved President Vladimir Putin was a dictator ruling by repression.

On the 19 July 2013 Mr Navalny was freed from jail pending an appeal. The jail term was criticised by the US, EU and human rights groups.

In February 2014 Russian investigators asked a court to put Alexei Navalny under house arrest. Officials said he had repeatedly travelled outside Moscow, in breach of an undertaking not to do so.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Navalny to EU: Stop Russian criminals using your banks http://www.europeansources.info/record/navalny-to-eu-stop-russian-criminals-using-your-banks/

ESO: Background information: Trial of Russian activist Alexei Navalny resumes http://www.europeansources.info/record/trial-of-russian-activist-alexei-navalny-resumes/

Deutsche Welle, 18.07.13: Russian court convicts leading Putin critic Navalny of theft http://dw.de/p/199xy

RIA Novosti, 18.07.13: Russian Opposition Leader Navalny Found Guilty – Court http://en.rian.ru/politics/20130718/182299516/Russian-Opposition-Leader-Navalny-Found-Guilty--Court.html

RIA Novosti, 18.17.13: Russian Police and Opposition Supporters Face Off at Protests http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130718/182307851/Russian-Police-and-Opposition-Supporters-Face-Off-at-Protests.html

EurActiv, 19.07.13: Protestors call Putin ‘dictator’ following Navalny’s conviction http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/protestors-call-putin-dictator-f-news-529390

BBC News, 19.07.13: Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny freed on bail http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23370623

RIA Novosti, 19.07.13: Russian Court Releases Navalny From Custody Pending Appeal http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130719/182319691/Russian-Court-Releases-Navalny-From-Custody-Pending-Appeal.html

RIA Novosti: Tag: AlexeiNavalny http://en.rian.ru/tags/tag_AlexeiNavalny/

Spiegel Online International, 19.07.13: Sentence Suspended: Navalny Release Baffles Friends and Foes http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/moscow-mystery-why-was-sentence-of-russian-blogger-navalny-suspended-a-912108.html

BBC News, 20.07.13: Russia opposition leader Navalny vows Moscow poll win http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23387909

EU: EEAS: Press Release,18.07.13: Catherine Ashton on the sentencing of Alexey Navalny and Pyotr Ofitserov http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/138137.pdf

RIA Novostri, 20.07.13: Navalny Returns to Moscow, Confirms Bid For Mayor http://en.rian.ru/russia/20130720/182337683/Convicted-Opposition-Leader-Navalny-Returns-to-Moscow.html

BBC New, 26.02.14: Alexei Navalny house arrest bid by Russian investigators http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26353627

RIA Novosti, 26.02.14: Investigators Ask to Put Navalny Under House Arrest http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140227/187919380/Investigators-Ask-to-Put-Navalny-Under-House-Arrest.html

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