The ruling came after Putin's harsh critic appealed his sentence of 3.5 years in prison, claiming it was a decision based on political considerations.
Navalny, today in a court in Russia
Photo:
AP
Following the appeal of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny over the prison sentence handed down to him, for 3.5 years, the local court has cut a month and a half from the jail term, the Reuters news agency reported today (Saturday).
The judge refused to respond to Navalny's request for his release, after the opposition claimed that the decision to imprison him was made for political reasons.
From the glass cell where Navalny was staying during the hearing, he reacted sarcastically to a cut in his sentence: "They reduced the sentence by a month and a half, great."
Navalny is expected to move next week to a remote penal colony to serve his sentence.
Across Russia protesters release Nabalani // Photo: Reuters
Earlier this month, the trial of Navalny, known as a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, opened in Moscow.
The legal hearing deals with the "Yves Rocher" case - concerning the embezzlement of money by Navalny and his brother - in which the opposition was convicted in 2014 and sentenced to 3.5 years probation.
The prosecution demanded that the sentence be converted to actual imprisonment.
The case has caused a stir around the world, and many jurists have argued that it was fabricated by the Russian regime.
Navalny was arrested on landing in Moscow on January 18, after completing his rehabilitation process from the Novichuk poisoning at the Charita Hospital in Berlin.
In court, Navalny said today: "I do not want to show off, but the whole world knew where I was. As soon as I recovered, I bought a plane ticket and returned home."
He added that he has no regrets about returning to his homeland.
"Our country is built on injustice, but tens of millions of people want the truth. Sooner or later, they will accept it."
In a previous court hearing, he said: "I want everyone, including the media, to notice that they put me in custody in a case where I was not guilty and the charge is fake. Someone very much wants me not to take a single step in our country as a free man. We know who is interested. "The reason is the hatred and fear of one person living in the bunker. I insulted him badly by being able to survive after they tried to poison me to death at his command."
Meanwhile, protests in Russia over the past week have continued for the release of Navalny.
Women across the country banded together and protested his arrest, expressing support for his partner Julia Navalny and with "all the women who face state and police violence."
The demonstrators demanded the immediate release of political prisoners, an end to fabricated legal proceedings, an end to torture during police investigations and the possibility of uninterrupted rallies.
