The trial of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for defamation began today in a Moscow court, a few days after he was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for violating his probation.
Navalny, who is present in the courtroom, is accused of spreading "false" and "offensive" information about a World War II veteran who last summer defended a referendum that strengthened President Vladimir Putin's powers in a video clip.
A Russian opposition figure said the people in the video, including the veteran, were "the nation's shame" and "traitors".
Navalny, who could be fined or even imprisoned, said the charges were political.
A Russian opposition figure was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison on Tuesday for violating his probation when he was rushed to Germany for treatment last summer.
Navalny (44) was arrested on January 17 after returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from poisoning with the nerve agent novichok, which he blamed on the Kremlin. Russian authorities reject the accusations.
He accuses the authorities of trying to silence him after he survived a poisoning attempt.
Navalny's arrest sparked mass protests across Russia in which more than 10.000 people were arrested.
Navalny called on supporters to "overcome fear" and free Russia from "thieves", but his team did not call for new protests.
The case of the Russian opposition member should be the topic of today's meeting between the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, and the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov.
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