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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

A prominent Putin critic [wikipedia.org] has been found guilty of embezzlement [bbc.com]:

Russia's main opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been found guilty of embezzlement, local media report. A judge is still reading the verdict in the city of Kirov, but news agencies said it was clear in his remarks that Mr Navalny had been convicted. Even a suspended sentence would bar him from running for president next year.

An outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin, Mr Navalny has denied the accusations, saying the case is politically motivated. A sentence in the retrial, ordered after a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, may take hours to be read out. Prosecutors had asked the judge to hand Mr Navalny a five-year suspended sentence.

In Putin's Russia, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

Also at Washington Post [washingtonpost.com], NPR [npr.org], RT [rt.com], and Reuters [reuters.com].

Related: Politician Killed in Moscow Ahead of Weekend Opposition Rally [soylentnews.org] - "Another organiser of the upcoming rally, Alexei Navalny, was jailed on 19 February for 15 days after handing out leaflets in public promoting the rally."
Killers of Boris Nemtsov Found, Arrested [soylentnews.org]
Former Russian Anti-Doping Boss Dies Suddenly [soylentnews.org]

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