Navalny alleges Russia 'imprisoning one to frighten millions' as court hands jail term

Protests emerged across Russia after a Moscow court handed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny jail term for two and a half years on Tuesday. Navalny was charged for breaking his parole conditions while recovering from poisoning, and for deuncing  President Vlimir Putin as “Putin poisoner.” In a ruling, prosecutors sentenced anti-corruption campaigner for violating probation terms from a 2014 money-laundering conviction in which he h received a suspended sentence of three and a half years. 

Navalny, on February 2, was handed a prison term, after judge took into account 11 months that he h spent under house arrest. Prosecutor General's office backed motion alleging Navalny h engd in "unlawful conduct" during probation period. Condemning Tuesday’s ruling as politically motivated, pro-pro-navally demonstrators flooded streets of Moscow, in fresh rallies, deuncing Russian government and demanding immediate release of Putin’s opposition leer.

"Can you explain to me how else I was supposed to fulfill terms of my probation and tify where I am?" Nvalny asked court, according to ANI's report.

He ded, “Why are you sitting here and telling court you didn’t kw where I was? I fell into a coma, n I was in ICU, n in rehabilitation. I contacted my lawyer to send you a tice. You h dress, my contact details. What else could I have done to inform you?” 

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[Servicemen of Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia) gar at Red Square to prevent a protest rally in Moscow. Credit: AP]

[Russian soldiers stand toward Palace Square a day before of Sunday's protest in St. Petersburg. Credit: AP]

Prosecution 'a weakness'

In a  Moscow courtroom, ahe of ruling, Navalny berated Russian authorities for poisoning him and condemned Russian President Vlimir Putin of being responsible for his persecution —alleging that Russian leer was imprisoning one to frighten millions, according to US brocasters, that cited court’s hearing. Furrmore, he called his prosecution “a weakness” and insisted that he will ensure that rule of law prevailed in country. According to his lawyer Olga Mikhailova’s statement, Navalny, who took verdict bravely, plans to appeal it, she was quoted saying by reporters gared just outside courthouse. 

Navalny called Russian President ""little thieving man in his bunker who doesn't want me to set foot on ground in Russia", furr ding, " reason for this is hatred and fear of one person who is hiding in bunker. I've offended him so deeply by fact that I've survived."

On Prosecutor's objection, Navalny said: "I don't need your objections."

"He [Puitn] can pretend he is this big politician, world leer, but w my main offense to him is that he will go down in history as Putin Poisoner. re was Alexander Liberator and Yaroslav Wise, and re will be Vlimir Poisoner of Underpants. He is t engaging in geopolitics, he holds meetings on how to smear underwear with chemical weapons," Navalny ded.

In a fresh stir of angst, citizens hit streets once again calling for crowd to gar for a demonstration Tuesday outside Moscow court building. Russian law enforcement, according to Associated Press report, gared out in full force near building, cordoning off nearby streets and making random arbitrary detentions. earlier, Moscow court h Moscow court h ordered Navalny’s wife to pay 20,000 rubles (about $265) penalty for violating protest regulations after she joined forces with demonstration in Russian capital to demand her husband’s release. She was arrested with coercion and charged with participating in an unauthorized rally, according to Interfax news ncy. This caused massive outpouring of discontent Russia against police and Putin’s ministration. 

[Russian Rosguardia (National Guard) soldiers stand blocking enter to Palace Square. Credit: AP]

[In this handout photo taken from a foot provided by Moscow City Court, wife of Russian opposition leer Alexei Navalny, Yulia, in red, reacts attending a hearing to a motion. Credit: AP]

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(Im Credit: AP)