Navalny verdict

[mendeleyev]

From the Mendeleyev Journal:

What happens when prosecutors charge a man with stealing more lumber than the timber company actually produces annually? In Russia, you find the person guilty.

Observers point out that the criminal conviction rate in Russia is over 97%--slim chances for anyone arrested eventually being found innocent.



(Alexei Navalny and his brother Oleg.)

Alexei Navalny was back in court, charged along with his brother Oleg for supposedly stealing over $500,000 from French cosmetics firm Yves Rocher. There is only one small problem: Yves Rocher says they have no knowledge of the theft and has refused to cooperate with Russian prosecutors in the case.



After a very brief trial, defense lawyers are limited in how they can participate in Russian criminal trials, the verdict was expected to be announced on 15 January. Expecting the all-too-usual guilty finding for those who refuse to toe the Kremlin line, opposition forces began to circulate plans via social media for mass street protests after the verdict.

The Russian government moved in and forced Internet services to remove the protest notices, on the grounds of public security. Facebook and others complied, but some say the announcement by Google that it was pulling units out of Russia was an indication of the heavy handed style of dealing with the Kremlin. Just this week the top Russian social media site, Vkontake, fired its founder who was replaced by a Kremlin backed successor. The founder, Pavel Durov, fled Russia this week.

Late Monday afternoon a message appeared on Navalny's website that read, "Five minutes ago we were informed that the verdict will be tomorrow, Dec. 30 at 9 a.m."

Navalny has been under house arrest since earlier this spring. One ominous note, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was also sentenced on secondary charges on the same date: 30 December.

Opposition organizers say that have moved the protest up to 7pm on Tuesday at the Manezh Square. The Manezh Square (Манежная площадь) is located just steps from the Kremlin in the centre of Moscow. Manezhnaya connects the areas of the State Historical Museum, the Aleksandr Gardens, and the Tverskoy district to the Iberian Gates entrance at Red Square.

[lordtiberius]

May God Protect This Man!

[southernX]

navalny will be found guilty no doubt

mr putin is clearly moving early in anticipation of increasing public dissatisfaction with himself to remove any chance of an  alternative public figure being able to cause him issues

SX

[mendeleyev]

Putin is afraid.

In a case where the supposed defrauded doesn't know that they were defrauded, Navalny was still found guilty. Hi brother Oleg will spend 3.5 years in a prison colony.

However Alexei received a 3.5 year suspended sentence.

Translation: Someone is afraid to stir the public, but still sent the message that "see what I can do to your family. Learn this lesson and law low, or else we'll be back with more trumped up charges and your brother will spend a lot longer in prison than 3.5 years."

The government is warning that tonight's protest march will be suppressed. A very large police presence has been on the scene all day in anticipation of the rally.

[AC]

This just in.  Navalny has been detained for breaking his house arrest on the way to a demonstration.


http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-russia-navalny-20141230-story.html

[mendeleyev]

Now, at night time, there is a large protest in the centre of Moscow and police are periodically arresting participants, although the protest (allowed by the Constitution in Article 31, but prohibited by the government) is peaceful.

Those who would like to watch how such things work in a police state can watch live streaming here: http://openrussia.org/

[mendeleyev]

Alexander Kolyandr of the Wall Street Journal was just arrested at the Moscow protest rally. His only crime was being caught taking photos. Police have just now taken away his passport and Russian press credentials and are shoving him into a police wagon.

[jone]

Well, the Kremlin sure is drawing attention to itself and making a martyr out of Navalny.  This isn't Pussy Riot.  This guy has a credible history and won 27% of the vote in the last Moscow Mayoral Election.

[AC]

Well, the Kremlin sure is drawing attention to itself and making a martyr out of Navalny.  This isn't Pussy Riot.  This guy has a credible history and won 27% of the vote in the last Moscow Mayoral Election.