Even so, tens of thousands of people demonstrated nationwide last week as a show of solidarity with Navalny. Hundreds were detained by police.
The Thursday hearing was aimed at appealing a guilty verdict on a charge that Navalny defamed a World War II veteran, a charge widely seen as politically motivated. Among other things, the court rejected an appeal to void an 850,000 ruble ($11,500) fine in connection with the conviction.
Sporting a newly shaved head, Navalny told the court that he had tried to tidy himself to look decent for the hearing. He undid his prison uniform to reveal a T-shirt covering his thin torso.