CBS News: Russian court gives opposition leader Alexey Navalny a new prison sentence
Russian opposition leader and fierce Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny was sentenced to 3 and a half years in prison on Tuesday in a court proceeding that he condemned as politically motivated. The court gave him credit for about year of the sentence he had already served, saying he would be required to spend another two years and eight months behind bars.
Before the ruling, Navalny condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin saying, “They’re imprisoning one person to frighten millions. This isn’t a demonstration of strength, it’s a show of weakness.”
The United States is deeply concerned by Russia’s actions toward Aleksey Navalny. We reiterate our call for his immediate and unconditional release as well as the release of all those wrongfully detained for exercising their rights.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 2, 2021