Russian court declines to jail opposition leader Navalny

KIROV - Reuters

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny takes a photo by his cell phone with a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin and words "Thief" in a court room in Kirov, Russia, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013. AP photo

A Russian court on Wednesday upheld the theft conviction against opposition leader Alexei Navalny but suspended his five-year prison sentence, meaning the prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin will not be jailed.

Navalny was convicted in July of organising the theft of 16 million roubles ($500,000) from a timber firm in 2009. He had appealed the verdict and sentence, contending the case against him was fabricated and politically motivated.