Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny attended the start of a new trial on February 15 on fraud charges widely seen as politically motivated. The session took place inside Correctional Colony No. 2 in the town of Pokrov, some 100 kilometers east of Moscow. The anti-corruption campaigner stands accused of embezzling money from his now-defunct and banned Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). He has spent the last year behind bars after his conviction on a different fraud charge that he also says was trumped up by the Kremlin. A fresh conviction could extend his prison time by more than 10 years.
For more than 20 years, the World Bank Group (WBG) Integrity Vice Presidency (INT) has added its voice and support to the individuals, partner agencies, and international efforts aimed at reducing corruption.