Russian prosecutors call for 6 years in jail for whistle-blowing blogger Navalny

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prosecutors called for six years in prison and a fine of one million rubles ($30,000) for anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny on Friday, July 5 in an ongoing embezzlement trial that his supporters say is designed to silence Russia's opposition, RIA Novosti said.

Navalny, a whistle-blowing blogger who has led large-scale street protests in Moscow against Russian President Vladimir Putin, is accused of having been involved in a criminal group that allegedly stole $500,000 worth of timber from state-run lumber company Kirovles.

His trial, which began in April and is now entering its final stages, is being held in the provincial city of Kirov – some 800 km (500 miles) from Moscow – where Navalny was working as an advisor to the Kirov region governor when the alleged embezzlement took place. Navalny, who denies the charges and claims they are politically motivated, is expected to make his closing arguments Friday.

Prosecutors are also seeking a sentence of five years and a fine of one million rubles for co-defendant Pyotr Ofitserov, a former colleague of Navalny’s who ran the Vyatka Timber Company.

Navalny has been nominated as an official candidate in upcoming Moscow mayoral elections, which are scheduled for September 8. Under Russian law, any jail sentence – even a suspended one – will leave the opposition leader barred from running for public office.