Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Germany ups criticism of Russian opposition leader’s trial

BERLIN – Germany has stepped up criticism of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s conviction for fraud, a verdict that bars him from running for president next year.

Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday that the allegations against Navalny were difficult to comprehend and indicated the case might be politically motivated.

Navalny was handed a suspended five-year sentence Wednesday in a retrial of a 2013 fraud case. A judge in Kirov, some 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of Moscow, found Navalny guilty of embezzling the equivalent of $270,000 from a timber company.

Seibert said the verdict illustrated how Russia’s judiciary was making it “increasingly difficult for the opposition to be politically active.”

He said that Navalny’s conviction would mean that one of the few opposition candidates is excluded from Russia’s election.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles