Kremlin critic Navalny faces up to 15 more years in jail as new trial starts
RUSSIAN opposition leader Alexei Navalny faces up to 15 more years behind bars as a new trial opened at the penal colony where he is imprisoned.
It is a further step in the year-long crackdown on Russia's most prominent Kremlin critic, his allies and other dissenting voices.
Vladimir Putin's long-time opponent, who ran against him for president, is charged with fraud and contempt of court.
His wife Yulia, who has been allowed to attend the trial at the IK-2 colony, said the proceedings were being held during the only time he would have been allowed to have visits "on purpose".
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Navalny, 45, told the court: "These people, who ordered this trial, are really scared? of what I say during this trial, of people seeing that the case is obviously fabricated."
He was seized in January 2021 after he spent five months recovering in Germany from a nerve agent poisoning he blames on the Kremlin, a claim officials deny.
A court sentenced him to two and a half years over parole violations linked to a fraud case that he says was politically motivated.
His allies have fled Russia after facing multiple criminal charges while his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and dozens of regional offices were outlawed as extremist.