Navalny defies prosecution on defamation charge

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appeared in a Moscow court on Friday on a resumed charge of defaming a World War II veteran.

The politician, who was ordered last week to serve two years and eight months in prison, said the prosecution had taken advantage of veteran Ignat Artemenko, as he would have been unable to accuse Navalny himself.

Navalny accused prosecutors of writing statements on Artemenko's behalf, and using the WWII veteran as a "puppet" and demanded the court conduct a handwriting examination.

His request was denied.

Last June, Russia's Investigative Committee launched a probe into Navalny on charges of defamation, after the politician slammed people featured in a video promoting the constitutional reform that allowed an extension to President Vladimir Putin's rule as "corrupt stooges" and "traitors."

The authorities maintained that Navalny's comments "denigrate (the) honour and dignity" of a World War II veteran featured in the video. If convicted, Navalny faces a fine or community service.

Last month the 44-year-old Navalny, an anti-corruption investigator and Putin's most prominent critic, was arrested upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin.

Russian authorities have rejected the accusations.