Kremlin Foe Navalny Fined $10 For Cutting Ankle Bracelet

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – January 14, 2015) Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny has been convicted of large-scale theft twice and spent many nights in jail after street protests.

The latest punishment meted out to one of the Kremlin’s fiercest foes is perhaps the least severe: a $10 fine.

On his website on January 14, Navalny posted a note from Russia’s prison service ordering him to pay the 670-ruble cost of the monitoring bracelet he cut off his ankle last week in defiance of his confinement to house arrest.

The order, dated January 13, informs Navalny that he has “inflicted material loss” by cutting off the bracelet and warns of legal action if he fails to pay.

It gives bank account details for the payment.

Navalny was convicted of theft on December 30, after a trial he says was part of a Kremlin campaign of retribution for his oppostion activities, and given a suspended prison sentence.

He contends that the judge’s order that he remain under house arrest is illegal.

Also on January 14, a Moscow court refused to consider a complaint from Navalny’s brother Oleg, who was convicted on the same charge and sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison, against his confinement to a detention facility pending appeal.

Article from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty – rferl.org – ©2015 RFE/RL, Inc. Article also appeared at rferl.org/content/russia-navalny/26793630.html