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Judge refuses defence witnesses for Putin foe Navalny

A judge on Tuesday refused to allow Russia's top opposition protester Alexei Navalny to call any defence witnesses at his embezzlement trial which could see him jailed for up to 10 years on charges that he calls politically motivated. The charismatic rally speaker and blogger on state corruption is accused of causing a half-million-dollar loss to the northern Kirov region in a timber deal in 2009 when he acted as an unpaid advisor to the governor. He links the case to his declared ambitions to stand for president.

Putin foe Navalny denies 'absurd' charge at trial

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Monday dismissed the embezzlement charge against him as absurd as he faced cross-examination for the first time at his trial in the northern city of Kirov. Dressed in a white shirt and jeans, Navalny answered questions for more than an hour. Asked by the judge Sergei Blinov for his general view of the charge against him, he said simply: "It's absurd."

Interpol refuses Russian search request on dead lawyer's boss

International police agency Interpol has pressed the delete button on all the information it has on the former employer of late lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, saying a Russian search request for him was of a "political nature". Magnitsky died in prison in 2009 after revealing a massive fraud scheme. At the time he blew the whistle he was working for US-born British citizen William Browder, the biggest foreign investor in Russia in the past decade, who has now become a target for Russian authorities.

Interpol rejects Russia's 'political' case against fund manager Browder

By Jason Bush MOSCOW - Interpol has refused to include UK-based fund manager William Browder on its international search list after deciding that Russia's tax evasion case against him is "of a predominantly political nature". The decision is the latest twist in a long-running battle between the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Browder, whose investment company Hermitage Capital was once the largest investor in Russia's equity market.

Police agency Interpol quashes Russian bid to hunt down UK investor

PARIS - The international police agency Interpol has rejected a Russian push to locate and arrest a Britain-based investor who is a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin's regime. France-based Interpol said in a statement Friday it has "deleted all information in relation to William Browder." A special Interpol-related committee decided at a meeting Friday that "the case was of a predominantly political nature" and therefore Interpol shouldn't be involved in helping Russia pursue Browder. Browder, of Hermitage Capital investment fund, welcomed the decision.

Russian governor backs former advisor Navalny in court

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Wednesday received a boost in his controversial trial for embezzlement when a witness for the prosecution testified in support of the Kremlin critic. The testimony by Kirov region governor Nikita Belykh was the latest to undermine the prosecution case, which the opposition has denounced as a set-up ordered by the Kremlin to end Navalny's political career.

Russian opposition seek to revive protests against Putin

By Timothy Heritage MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian protestors unfurled a huge banner demanding the release of "political prisoners" on Monday, at the start of a day of protest against President Vladimir Putin intended to revive their flagging opposition movement. The banner, declaring "Freedom for the May 6 prisoners!", rippled over three floors at the top of a high-rise apartment block on Novy Arbat, one of Moscow's busiest streets. It was quickly taken down and one man was arrested.

Russian officials defiant on inclusion in US blacklist

Russian officials blacklisted by the United States over the prison death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky expressed defiance on Saturday as ministers assured them of the Russian government's support. The United States this month released a list of 16 Russians allegedly linked to the 2009 death of Magnitsky. They were barred from travelling to the United States or holding assets there in a move that enraged Russia and prompted tit-for-tat measures and a US adoption ban.

Russia gives Ireland adoption warning over Magnitsky law

Russia has warned Ireland it could break off talks on cross-border adoptions if lawmakers press for sanctions against Russian officials implicated in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, according to a letter obtained by AFP on Friday. The threat follows Moscow's decision to ban US adoptions of Russian orphans in retaliation for a recent US law freezing the assets and denying entry to America of those tied to Magnitsky's death in custody in 2009.

Putin says sees 'no elements of Stalinism' in Russia

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday denied the existence of any elements of Stalinism under his rule but warned there needed to be "order and discipline" in modern Russia. "I do not see any elements of Stalinism here," Putin said in his annual question-and-answer session with Russians amid growing criticism from activists over a crackdown on civil society. "Stalinism is linked to the cult of personality, mass violations of the law, repressions and camps." But he added: "This does not mean that we should not have order and discipline."
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