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NBCJan 03, 2022
Putin Critic Navalny Sentenced to 9 More Years In Prison
Image copyright: Reuters [via The New York Times]
The Facts
Jailed Russian opposition leader and Putin critic Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 9 yrs in a high-security prison on Tues. after being convicted of fraud and contempt of court by a Moscow judge.
The conviction stemmed from allegations that he'd embezzled funds from his own anti-corruption foundation. Russian authorities banned the organization as "extremist" last year.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
Navalny's arrest and the new charges are politically-motivated and are part of a sweeping and historic crackdown on human rights and democracy advocates under an authoritarian regime.
Pro-Russia narrative
Navalny is a stooge who was being used by Western intelligence agencies to further their interests in Russia, including potentially efforts to bring about regime change.