Russian prosecutors said Friday that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny should be imprisoned for 10 years and his brother Oleg for eight years if found guilty of stealing more than 30 million rubles ($500,000).
The two are accused of stealing from two firms including an affiliate of the French cosmetics company Yves Rocher between 2008 and 2012.
Navalny, who led mass protests against President Vladimir Putin three years ago, and his brother say they are innocent of the charges and have dismissed them as part of a Kremlin campaign to stifle dissent.
Prosecutor Nadezhda Ignatova told the Moscow court that the 10-year term would cover those charges and an earlier conviction for embezzling 16 million rubles from a state timber company.
"The guilt of the defendant has been fully proven," she said.
Navalny, a Western-educated anti-corruption blogger, sighed after the prosecutor spoke, saying: "At least it's easy to count."
Currently under house arrest, Navalny is serving a suspended five-year jail term for the timber conviction last year which Kremlin critics also call a sham.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.