One of Russia’s most prominent opposition figures and his brother have been found guilty of fraud in a politically charged trial, state media reported Tuesday.
Blogger and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was given a suspended sentence of three-and-a-half years, while his brother, Oleg, was given a prison term of the same length.
Both were hit with steep fines, but only Oleg Navalny was ordered to pay.
When the sentence was read out, Alexei Navalny shouted out in anger and frustration with the judgment against his brother.
Both brothers denied charges of embezzling 30 million rubles ($540,000) from a Russian subsidiary of French cosmetics company Yves Rocher between 2008 and 2012.
Despite the biting winter cold, supporters of Alexi Navalny gathered near the Kremlin in Moscow’s main square Tuesday evening to protest against the verdict.
A Facebook page promoting the event predicted that thousands would attend, but the numbers were far smaller as the protest got underway.
The sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for January 15 — when a big rally was planned — but was brought forward at a day’s notice, leading Navalny’s supporters to slam what they said was an attempt to suppress protest.
Many people have left Moscow ahead of the New Year public holiday, making it harder to muster a crowd.
The protest is likely to be illegal because Navalny’s supporters have not had enough time to apply for the permissions required under Russian law, raising the prospect of a confrontation between protesters and police.
After the sentencing, Navalny supporters also accused the Kremlin of using Oleg Navalny as leverage against his brother.
However, they did voice surprise that the sentences were not tougher. Prosecutors had asked for Alexei Navalny to be given a 10-year prison sentence and Oleg to receive an eight-year term.
A corruption-fighting lawyer, Alexei Navalny famously branded the ruling United Russia party — founded by President Vladimir Putin — “the party of crooks and thieves.”
He was a prominent organizer of mass street protests three years ago and has attacked corruption in Russian government, using his blog and social media.
Before Tuesday’s ruling he was under house arrest after he was convicted last year of misappropriating $500,000 worth of state-owned timber, in what he told CNN was a fabricated case.