Interfax, July 18, 2013

Moscow, 18 July: Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Lukin hopes that the appeal will lead to a serious change of the verdict of a five-years imprisonment given to opposition activist Alexei Navalny by a court in Kirov.

“I have no right [as Ombudsman] to comment on the political aspect of the issue. However, there will, most likely, be an appeal in the essence against the verdict. And if it does not lead to serious changes in the announced sentence, and taking into account the history of the issue, quite a substantial part of the will view it (society (the Navalnyy case – Interfax) as a sqareing of accounts,” Lukin told Interfax on Thursday, July 18.

“It could have radical consequences for the relations between the authorities and the society,” the Ombudsman said.

“Certainly, excessive use of one’s own folly is not rare, however, very frequent abuse of it could cost us all very dearly,” said Lukin.

“What is currently happening in Moscow and other cities – St Petersburg and Kirov – is very important for the future of the country,” the Ombudsman said.

On Thursday a court in Kirov sentenced Alexei Navalny for five years of imprisonment founding him guilty of theft from the Kirovles company. The sentence caused outrage among opposition politicians, public figures and human rights activists. Protests have been taking place in Moscow, St Petersburg and a number of other cities.