Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could spend 10 years behind bars

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could face up to 10 years behind bars after prosecutors asked a judge for the steep sentence during the closing argument in a fraud case against him on Friday.

Navlny has maintained that the harsh sentence is actually a punishment for his political activities, as he has long been an outspoken critic of the Kremlin.

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Financial crimes in Russia rarely command such a lengthy sentence, and supporters of Navalny believe he is being unfairly targeted because of his opposition views. During the final arguments in a Moscow courthouse on Friday, prosecutors asked the judge to sentence Navalny to nine years in prison with one additional year for a previous conviction. Read more...

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