Putin critic Navalny loses prison sentence appeal

A judge on Saturday shot down an appeal against Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s prison sentence despite calls for his release from hundreds of protesters and the European Court of Human Rights.

Navalny, who has been an avid critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, appealed his 2 1/2 year sentence for violating parole while recovering from an assassination attempt. The Moscow City Court’s judge instead moved to reduce the sentence just slightly, ruling that Navalny’s month-long house arrest in 2015 would be deducted from his current sentence, according to The Associated Press.

Prior to receiving his verdict, Navalny made a verbal appeal to the judge and the prosecutor as well as the Russian public, stating that life in Russia could improve.

“Just imagine how wonderful life would be without constant lying,” he said, according to the AP. “Imagine how great it would be to work as a judge when no one would be able to call you and give you directions what verdicts to issue.”

Navalny also argued that he was unable to comply with his probation when he was poisoned in Germany, but he returned to Russia as soon as he could. He also expressed that his new-found faith in God helped him to face his challenges, stating that the Bible says that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, and he did not regret his decision to travel home, the AP reported.

“Even though our country is built on injustice and we all face it, we also see that millions of people want righteousness,” Navalny said in court, according to the AP. “They want the righteousness and sooner or later they will have it.”

On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights ordered the Russian government to release Navalny, citing a concern for “the nature and extent of risk to the applicant’s life,” the news outlet noted.

Navalny also faces a separate case on charges of defaming a World War II veteran on Saturday. He allegedly called the 94-year-old veteran and others “corrupt stooges” and “people without conscience.”

Navalny has rejected the slander charges, according to the AP.