Authorities in Russia have put the most vocal critic of Vladimir Putin, the country’s president, on trial in what many experts believe to be a risky attempt to shut out the country’s biggest and most charismatic opposition leader, from politics.
Alexei Navalny, the most well known campaigner for anti-corruption in Russia, led huge protests against Putin last year. Navalny was charged by Russian authorities with embezzlement and if found guilty, could face 10 years behind bars.
On Wednesday, the trial began in Kirov, where Navalny used to work as the governor’s adviser. It is during that time he is accused of committing his crime. However, the trial was adjourned immediately for one week to give the defense additional time to prepare prior for trial.
Navalny said the charges are trumped up and were made to hand down a guilty charge that would keep him from running in the elections. Legal experts that have researched the cases said the charges against Navalny were groundless and were just a persecution of his political ambitions.
Just one day after Putin’s critic started his trial, authorities said they had opened another criminal investigation focused on him and Oleg, his brother, on suspicion they defrauded another company out of $120,000.
Prior to his trial, Navalny said he aspired to be the President of Russia so he could dismantle the regime of thieves in the country and put Putin and his supporters behind bars.
