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."

By Gabriela Baczynska KIROV, Russia (Reuters) - Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny accused President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday of seeking "political revenge" against him after a court refused to throw out what he says are trumped-up charges. On day two of his trial on theft charges that are punishable by up to 10 years in jail, the anti-corruption campaigner and protest organiser said Judge Sergei Blinov was biased. Navalny urged Blinov to recuse himself and send the charges back to state prosecutors for review.

Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny on Wednesday slammed his trial on embezzlement charges as politically motivated and said its goal was to end his ambitions of running for office. "The most important reason for this case's existence... is pushing me out of the legal political field," Navalny said in his first defence statement in the trial, which reopened earlier in the northern Kirov region. lap-ma/sjw/lc

By Gabriela Baczynska KIROV, Russia (Reuters) - Russian protest leader Alexei Navalny urged a court on Wednesday to throw out what he said were trumped-up charges intended to silence one of President Vladimir Putin's sharpest critics. A court in the industrial city of Kirov adjourned to consider his request to return the case to state prosecutors for review on day two of his trial on charges of stealing from a timber firm that carry a possible 10-year jail term.