POKROV /Vladimir Region/, March 22. /TASS/. Moscow’s Lefortovo Court sentenced Russian Blogger Alexey Navalny to nine years to be served in a strict regime colony, ruling him guilty of fraud and contempt of court.

"Finally sentence Navalny to a punishment of 9 years to be served in a strict regime colony, with additional fine of 1.2 million rubles," Judge Margarita Kotova announced Tuesday.

The court also sentenced Navalny to one year of restriction of freedom after release.

The sentence was made with consideration of previous cases of fraud and libel against a World War II veteran. The sentence has not yet entered into effect and could be appealed in a higher court.

Analyzing the evidence, the court ruled that the materials, provided by the prosecution, do not contradict themselves and were not debunked by the defense.

Meanwhile, the defense witnesses’ testimonies were criticized, while Navalny’s denial of guilt was his method of defense, the court decided.

"In this regard, the court cannot agree with the position of Navalny and his defense regarding his innocence," the judge said.