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| Anti-Putin activist Alexei Navalny's trial begins and is adjourned | Anti-Putin activist Alexei Navalny's trial begins and is adjourned |
| (25 days later) | |
| The trial of Russia's leading anti-Kremlin activist has started in the provincial city of Kirov, in a case that has spotlighted President Vladimir Putin's refusal to tolerate critics. | The trial of Russia's leading anti-Kremlin activist has started in the provincial city of Kirov, in a case that has spotlighted President Vladimir Putin's refusal to tolerate critics. |
| In a scene reminiscent of pre-revolutionary Russia, Alexei Navalny stepped off an overnight train from Moscow – 500 miles and 12 hours away – to attend the trial, accompanied by his wife and dozens of journalists from the country's struggling independent media. | In a scene reminiscent of pre-revolutionary Russia, Alexei Navalny stepped off an overnight train from Moscow – 500 miles and 12 hours away – to attend the trial, accompanied by his wife and dozens of journalists from the country's struggling independent media. |
| The 36-year-old lawyer, corruption crusader and popular blogger has been charged with embezzlement dating back to his time as an adviser to the regional government in 2009. But the case is widely seen as a means of silencing the man who has become Putin's loudest critic. | The 36-year-old lawyer, corruption crusader and popular blogger has been charged with embezzlement dating back to his time as an adviser to the regional government in 2009. But the case is widely seen as a means of silencing the man who has become Putin's loudest critic. |
| "We say this simple truth – that Putin is a thief – and that's why this trial is happening," Navalny told supporters gathered for a small protest before entering the courtroom on Wednesday. | "We say this simple truth – that Putin is a thief – and that's why this trial is happening," Navalny told supporters gathered for a small protest before entering the courtroom on Wednesday. |
| The judge, Sergei Blinov, adjourned the case after 45 minutes and called a subsequent session for 24 April. Navalny's defence had argued that they were not given enough time to prepare for the trial. However, a delay had been expected as the state seeks to dampen attention on the case. | The judge, Sergei Blinov, adjourned the case after 45 minutes and called a subsequent session for 24 April. Navalny's defence had argued that they were not given enough time to prepare for the trial. However, a delay had been expected as the state seeks to dampen attention on the case. |
| "It seems that this is how this trial will be conducted – we will arrive and leave, arrive and leave," Navalny said after the short hearing. "They are interested in making this trial so that everyone gets sick of it." | "It seems that this is how this trial will be conducted – we will arrive and leave, arrive and leave," Navalny said after the short hearing. "They are interested in making this trial so that everyone gets sick of it." |
| With less than 1% of Russian court cases ending in not-guilty verdicts, it is almost certain Navalny will be convicted. He faces up to 10 years in prison – or a suspended sentence, which would forbid him from running for office and kill any hope of a legitimate political career. | With less than 1% of Russian court cases ending in not-guilty verdicts, it is almost certain Navalny will be convicted. He faces up to 10 years in prison – or a suspended sentence, which would forbid him from running for office and kill any hope of a legitimate political career. |
| Navalny's popularity grew on the back of mass anti-Putin protests that swept Moscow early last year. He has since announced presidential aspirations. | Navalny's popularity grew on the back of mass anti-Putin protests that swept Moscow early last year. He has since announced presidential aspirations. |
| Much of his public support, however, has receded amid a Kremlin crackdown that has sown widespread fear among those opposed to Putin. Dozens of protesters have been arrested in the past year and a new legal framework has increased sanctions for those who dare to speak out. | Much of his public support, however, has receded amid a Kremlin crackdown that has sown widespread fear among those opposed to Putin. Dozens of protesters have been arrested in the past year and a new legal framework has increased sanctions for those who dare to speak out. |
| "This trial has the same meaning as the one against Khodorkovsky," said Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister turned opposition leader, referring to the jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. "Khodorkovsky was tried in order to frighten business. Navalny is being tried in an attempt to scare and stop civil society, protest and activism." | "This trial has the same meaning as the one against Khodorkovsky," said Boris Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister turned opposition leader, referring to the jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. "Khodorkovsky was tried in order to frighten business. Navalny is being tried in an attempt to scare and stop civil society, protest and activism." |
| Navalny, represented by two defence lawyers, will argue that he did not lead a criminal group to embezzle 16m roubles (£333,000) from Kirovles, a state-run timber firm, while advising the region's liberal governor, Nikita Belykh. | Navalny, represented by two defence lawyers, will argue that he did not lead a criminal group to embezzle 16m roubles (£333,000) from Kirovles, a state-run timber firm, while advising the region's liberal governor, Nikita Belykh. |
| "I plan on fully showing my innocence and that this is a political trial," Navalny said. He thanked journalists and supporters for making the voyage to Kirov despite Wednesday's quick hearing: "It's not for nothing – we are fighting for ourselves, for our families, for our freedom. We will be victorious." | "I plan on fully showing my innocence and that this is a political trial," Navalny said. He thanked journalists and supporters for making the voyage to Kirov despite Wednesday's quick hearing: "It's not for nothing – we are fighting for ourselves, for our families, for our freedom. We will be victorious." |
| About 100 local and visiting supporters occupied a square near the courthouse as Navalny's trial got underway. "We came here to support Navalny and to be a part of history – we will be telling our children about this," Denis Svidayev, 26, a small business owner. | About 100 local and visiting supporters occupied a square near the courthouse as Navalny's trial got underway. "We came here to support Navalny and to be a part of history – we will be telling our children about this," Denis Svidayev, 26, a small business owner. |
| "We can't say that Putin is guilty of absolutely everything that is wrong in the country but yes, he and his team are also guilty," he said. "The worst punishment that thieving officials in our country face is a fine. And every year it becomes more and more obvious that those loyal to government face no punishment in these corruption situations – and this all pours into our deep unhappiness with what is going on." | "We can't say that Putin is guilty of absolutely everything that is wrong in the country but yes, he and his team are also guilty," he said. "The worst punishment that thieving officials in our country face is a fine. And every year it becomes more and more obvious that those loyal to government face no punishment in these corruption situations – and this all pours into our deep unhappiness with what is going on." |
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