Prominent anti-corruption blogger and opposition figure Alexei Navalny leaves the Investigative Committee in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday. Reuters
Russia Charges Anti-Putin Protester Alexei Navalny In Latest Crackdown On Dissent -- NBC
MOSCOW -- Russian investigators charged street protest leader Alexei Navalny with theft Tuesday and banned him from leaving the country, threatening a heavy jail term in what supporters say is a growing crackdown on dissent by President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny, an anti-corruption blogger who has organized demonstrations that have dented Putin's authority, dismissed the charge as absurd and other opposition leaders accused Putin of using KGB-style tactics to try to silence his critics.
Other moves which the opposition depict as a crackdown on dissent since Putin began a six-year term in May include a law increasing fines for protesters, closer controls of the Internet and tighter rules for foreign-funded campaign and lobby groups.
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More News On Russia's Latest Crackdown On Dissent
Alexei Navalny Charged; Faces 10 Years in Prison -- Voice of America
Russia charges top Putin foe with embezzlement -- AFP
Russia Accuses Activist of Embezzlement -- Wall Street Journal
Russian opposition leader charged amid crackdown fears -- Russia
Russian opposition leader faces ‘quite absurd’ charges of timber theft -- Scotsman
Russian blogger Navalny charged with embezzlement -- BBC
Anti-Putin activist charged with theft -- USA Today
My Comment: Protest leader Alexei Navalny was stepping on too many toes .... and this is the government's way of putting him in his place. It is easy for me to now predict what will happen next .... he will be arrested, put in jail, the trial will happen in about a year, and he will then be convicted for theft and sentenced to 7 years. In short .... they are going to shut him down for almost a decade.