Key Russian opposition figure, Alexei Navalny, has been sentenced to nine years in jail by a court on Tuesday.

The 45-year-old was found guilty of embezzling funds for his anti-corruption foundation, which is now banned in Russia and for insulting a judge in an earlier trial.

Navalny is the most prominent opponent of long-time Russian President, Vladimir Putin.

The multiple legal proceedings against him have been criticised internationally as politically motivated.

He is already serving a sentence of several years in a prison camp in Pokrov, about 100 kilometres east of Moscow. (dpa/NAN)

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