A Russian court dismissed the appeal against Navalny’s prison sentence and reduced it to just a month and a half.

A Russian appeals court on Saturday upheld the 3.5-year prison sentence for opponent Alexei Navalny for violating a judicial review, in a judgment described as “arbitrary” by the European Court of Human Rights.

Dmitri Balashov, judge of a Moscow court, However, the sentence was reduced by a month and a half focused towards.

The court’s decision thus confirmed the conviction handed down on February 2 by the Babushkinski district court, and specified that the month and a half of the leader of the opposition’s arrest will be deducted from the sentence, For what this will eventually have to happen in prison two years and eight months.

“They went down a month and a half, something is something”Navalny said after the ruling cited by independent digital media Meduza.

The defense can always file a appeal, although the chances of its prosperity are extremely low.

“I usually conclude with the words ‘Russia will be free’. But that’s not enough. I want people to receive normal wages, retire with dignity. Russia is an unhappy country. You can see it in their literatures. : that misfortune and suffering. Russia must be not only free, but also happy. Russia will be happy! “ Navalny said in his last words before the decision.

Last Wednesday, the European Court of Human Rights decided to ask the Russian government to release the opponentThe court body reflected in a statement on its website.

“On February 16, 2021, the Court decided to order the Russian government, in accordance with Rule 39 of the Rules of Court, to release the complainant. This measure will be applied with immediate effect “, the statement said.

“The Court examined the nature and extent of the risk to the life of the complainant, demonstrated it At first glance for the purposes of applying the provisional measure and considered it in the light of the general circumstances of the applicant’s current detention. This measure was granted without prejudice to the Court’s decision on the merits of the present case and to the competence of the Committee of Ministers ”, the document continues.

Navalny was arrested by police at passport control at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow on January 17., after arriving in Russia on a flight from Berlin, where he traveled to recover from a poisoning suffered in August 2020 that the opponent blames the government of Vladimir Putin.

“I can tell you that I am completely happy to be back and that this is my best day in the last five months”he said shortly before being arrested. From the plane, he reiterated his gratitude to Germany and, in particular, to the doctors and nurses who treated him during his convalescence.

Navalny also faces another trial in which he is accused to defame a 95-year-old WWII veteran.

The leader is accused of having published in June 2020 a video in which he describes as “sold” and “traitors” the protagonists of a recording which defended the constitutional amendments promoted by Putin, among them, the veteran Ignat Artemenko.

The old man’s grandson chased the opponent, who did not acknowledge their responsibility and accused relatives of having take advantage of the situation, “exchange” with your image.

The incarceration of the unleashed opponent the biggest street protests in Russia in recent years, during which more than 10,000 people were arrested.

(With information from EFE, AFP and Reuters)

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