Alexei Navalny sentenced to three-and-a-half years in Russian prison

Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail amid an international outcry and widespread protests in Russia.

Mr Navalny, who is the most prominent critic of president Vladimir Putin, was arrested last month after returning to Russia from Germany where he had been recovering from a near-fatal nerve-agent poisoning.

On Tuesday, a Moscow court ruled that his suspended 2014 sentence for embezzlement should be converted into a jail term.

Mr Navalny, who rejects the conviction as fabricated, has already served a year under house arrest which will be deducted from the total sentence.

In court, Mr Navalny called President Vladimir Putin a “poisoner”.

The Russian authorities have denied involvement in the nerve agent attack on Mr Navalny in August, but he has blamed the Kremlin.

UK officials have said they believe there is “no plausible explanation for Mr Navalny’s poisoning, other than Russian involvement and responsibility”.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has now demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of the 44-year-old, as well as protesters who had been detained after taking to the streets to support him.

Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail for breaching the terms of his suspended sentence. (Photo by Alexander NEMENOV / AFP)

Thousands of Mr Navalny’s supporters have rallied across Russia in support of his case.

Mr Raab also called for the release of journalists who have been detained in the fortnight following Mr Navalny’s return to Russia.

“Today’s perverse ruling, targeting the victim of a poisoning rather than those responsible, shows Russia is failing to meet the most basic commitments expected of any responsible member of the international community,” Mr Raab said.

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Thousands of Mr Navalny’s supporters have rallied across Russia in support of his case. (Photo by Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

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