Kremlin Critic Navalny and Brother Hear Moscow Court's Painful Verdict
A supporter of opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny stands next to policemen blocking a street near a court building during his hearing in Moscow on Dec. 30, 2014. The sign reads "What to do? — Dry hardtack!".
Prominent anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny on Tuesday saw his younger brother Oleg sentenced to three and a half years in prison as his own sentence in the embezzlement case against them was suspended.
"Why are you putting him [my brother Oleg] in prison? To punish me even harder?" Alexei Navalny told the court and judge Yelena Korobchenko, Reuters reported.
Navalny and his brother stood accused of stealing 30 million rubles, or around $500,000 — charges Navalny believes are the Russian government's attempt to silence him. The Kremlin denies claims that it uses the court system to political ends.
The Navalny brothers' hearing was on Monday unexpectedly moved forward from Jan. 15 to Dec. 30, the very next day, in a move many Navalny supporters viewed as an attempt to forestall anticipated political protests.
Read more:
Kremlin Critic Navalny Gets Suspended Sentence, Brother Jailed
The Verdict Against Alexei and Oleg Navalny on Social Media
Prominent anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny on Tuesday saw his younger brother Oleg sentenced to three and a half years in prison as his own sentence in the embezzlement case against them was suspended.
"Why are you putting him [my brother Oleg] in prison? To punish me even harder?" Alexei Navalny told the court and judge Yelena Korobchenko, Reuters reported.
Navalny and his brother stood accused of stealing 30 million rubles, or around $500,000 — charges Navalny believes are the Russian government's attempt to silence him. The Kremlin denies claims that it uses the court system to political ends.
The Navalny brothers' hearing was on Monday unexpectedly moved forward from Jan. 15 to Dec. 30, the very next day, in a move many Navalny supporters viewed as an attempt to forestall anticipated political protests.
Read more:
Kremlin Critic Navalny Gets Suspended Sentence, Brother Jailed
The Verdict Against Alexei and Oleg Navalny on Social Media
Tatyana Makeyeva / Reuters
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny stands next to a defendants cage with his brother and co-defendant Oleg inside at a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny (R) talks with his brother and co-defendant Oleg (inside defendants cage) during a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny (L) and his brother and co-defendant Oleg attend a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Oleg Navalny (C), brother and co-defendant of Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei (L), gestures and hugs his wife Victoria after hearing the court verdict in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Alexei Navalny (2nd R), Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger with his wife Yulia (R) and his brother and co-defendant Oleg (2nd L) with his wife Victoria attend a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Alexei Navalny (R), Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger gestures with his wife Yulia before a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny (2nd R) and his brother and co-defendant Oleg (R) attend at a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters
Yulia (R), wife of Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny comforts Victoria, wife of Alexei's brother and co-defendant Oleg, after a court hearing in Moscow.
Sergei Karpukhin / Reuters