Russian court finds Alexei Navalny guilty of embezzlement, blocking presidential bid

A Russian court has found the opposition activist Alexey Navalny guilty of embezzlement, in a verdict that prevents him from standing against Vladimir Putin at next year’s presidential election.

In a hearing in the city of Kirov on Wednesday, Judge Alexei Vtyurin found Mr Navalny guilty of embezzling timber worth about $500,000.

Judge Vtyurin is expected to deliver a sentence later today. Prosecutors have asked for a five year suspended sentence.

Mr Navalny, who denies the allegations, was first convicted of fraud in connection with a timber firm called KirovLes in 2013.