(CNN) –– Alexei Navalny, anti-Russian and Kremlin critic, jailed in Russia Reject He appealed for a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence Sworn against him earlier this month.
The Court of Appeals reduced Navalny’s sentence to one and a half months. Precisely, when he takes into account the time he was under house arrest from December 2014 to February 2015.
Navalny appealed the sentence to Moscow Municipal Court on Saturday.
At the beginning of the process, the respondent asked the judge to allow him to videotape the trial.
However, the judge decided to prevent journalists from recording the process. Even if he says there will be a “record of judgment”.
Navalny’s lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, asked the court to release her client immediately. As requested European Court of Human Rights.
The court upheld the original sentence on February 2, after ruling that Navalny had violated the parole requirements of the 2014 case while in Germany. In that process he received a sentence of three and a half years suspended.
The sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
Navalny was initially detained by the Russian government after arriving from Germany. In that country, protesters have spent five months recovering from the poisoning of Novichok, for which he blames the Russian government. The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any involvement.
Mikhailova argued that Navalny’s life and health were in danger while in custody.
The court found Navalny guilty of defamation
At a separate hearing in Babushkinsky District Court this Saturday, Navalny was charged with defaming a WWII player. Allegation that the opponent is rejecting for political reasons.
The case relates to comments made by Navalny on social media last June. He criticized a video broadcast on the state television channel RT, in which several key figures expressed support for the controversial changes in Russia’s constitution. Among those was 94-year-old veteran Ignat Artemenko. Navalny was accused of slandering the veteran.
Constitutional changes backed by a July 1 referendum paved the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to rule the country for two decades until 2036.
“Navalny was convinced that the information he had published was false and defamatory,” Judge Vera Akimova said Saturday.
In December 2020, the fine for defamation was amended to include imprisonment. But at the time of Navalny’s indictment, the perpetrators could be fined up to a million rubles (about $ 13,300) or do community service.
Navalny’s legal team, Vadim Kobsev and Olga Mikhailova, have indicated they will appeal the verdict.
Navalny’s case has provoked massive protests across Russia and condemnation from Western leaders.
