Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny appears on Tuesday February 2 for violating his judicial review in a case dating back to 2014, a hearing that could lead him behind bars for several years despite the determination of his supporters.

Two days after protests across Russia that resulted in a record number of arrests, they again called for a meeting on Tuesday before the Moscow court, which will decide from 10 a.m. local time (7 a.m. GMT) the fate of the opponent.

Several arrests have already taken place in court, according to AFP.

"Those close to Navalny are pessimistic"

00:54

All the signals for the imprisonment of Alexei Navalny are green: Monday, the Prosecutor's Office in turn drew by deeming "legal and justified" the request of the prison services (FSIN), who demand his imprisonment.

Anti-corruption activist and sworn enemy of the Kremlin, Alexeï Navalny was imprisoned upon his return to Russia on January 17, after a convalescence of several months in Germany for a poisoning of which he accuses President Vladimir Putin.

Reason for the arrest: the violation, according to the authorities, of the conditions of a suspended prison sentence of three and a half years which could therefore be transformed into a firm sentence.

Alexeï Navalny having already served part of the sentence under house arrest, he risks around two and a half years of detention.

The 44-year-old opponent is also the target of multiple legal proceedings.

On Friday, for example, he is due to appear for "defamation" of a veteran after criticizing a pro-Kremlin advertising campaign in which he appeared.

He faces penalties ranging from a fine to five years in prison.

He is also implicated in an investigation for fraud, a crime punishable by ten years of detention, according to the authorities to have embezzled donations addressed to his organization, the Fund for the fight against corruption (FBK).

With AFP

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