Russia court finds opposition leader guilty of slander News
Russia court finds opposition leader guilty of slander

[JURIST] Judge Anna Nekryach of the Babushkinsky district court [official website, in Russian] on Tuesday found opposition leader Alexei Navalny [JURIST news archive] guilty of slander. A Moscow City Duma Deputy, Aleksei Lisovenko filed the lawsuit [RFE/RL report] after Navalny allegedly posed about Lisovenko on his Twitter account [personal account, in Russian], calling the deputy a drug addict. Nekryach found that the comment constituted slander and ordered Navalny to pay a 300,000 ruble (USD $8,350) fine. In February a Moscow court ordered Navalny on house arrest [JURIST report] during an investigation of embezzlement charges. Navalny and his supporters have argued [JURIST report] that these charges have been politically based, as Navalny’s blog [blog, translated to English] is in strong opposition to President Vladimir Putin [JURIST report].

Russia has cracked down on dissent recently. In November a Moscow court ruled [JURIST report] the Russian government could seize of Navalny’s assets. In October a Russian appeals court upheld [JURIST report] Navalny’s embezzlement conviction but suspended his five-year jail sentence, allowing him to walk free. In June the UN released a letter from human rights experts voicing their concern [JURIST report] that two Russian non-governmental organizations have been charged by Russian prosecutors following their involvement with the UN Committee against Torture.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.