Russian opposition leader Navalny guilty on fraud

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A Russian court on Tuesday found jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny guilty on embezzlement charges in Moscow. 

"Navalny committed fraud -- the theft of property by an organized group," Judge Margarita Kotova said, according to an AFP reporter present at the trial. He was also found guilty on a charge of contempt of court.

"Navalny’s actions reflected open disrespect for the court," Judge Margarita Kotova said.

On Tuesday, the court started to deliver a verdict against Navalny at a field hearing that is being held at a penal colony in the Vladimir region’s town of Pokrov, where Navalny is serving his earlier sentence.

Judge Kotova announced that the blogger had been found guilty of contempt of court during a hearing over a defamation case with regards to war veteran Ignat Artemenko, as well as for fraud charges.

According to investigators, Navalny embezzled about 2.7 mln rubles ($25,600) donated to the FBK Anti-Corruption Foundation (designated as an extremist organization in Russia). A sentence will be imposed on the blogger once the court summarizes all the collected evidence.

The corruption charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years and contempt of court is punishable by up to six months.

Last year, Moscow said it would ban seven British representatives from entering Russian soil after the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Russia over the alleged poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny. The UK had sanctioned seven Russian officials over Navalny's alleged poisoning.

Those sanctioned had been accused of planning or carrying out the so-called "nerve agent attack" on August 20, 2020. 

"In response to London's unfriendly actions and on the basis of the principle of reciprocity, it was decided to impose personal sanctions against a proportionate number of British representatives who are closely involved in anti-Russian activities," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.