Anti-Putin Blogger Might Face Criminal Charges

Aleksei Navalny

Lawyers for popular Russian blogger and opposition leader Aleksei Navalny say he could be charged in a probe into losses at a state-owned firm.

Lawyers said that Navalny has been summoned to appear on July 27 at the Investigative Committee in Moscow for questioning.

Investigators earlier this month reopened a two-year-old probe against Navalny.

According to investigators, a forestry firm in the Kirov region sustained losses of over 1 million rubles ($30,900) between April and August 2009 due to the actions of Navalny, who at the time was an adviser to the region's governor.

Navalny has denied the charges.

If found guilty he could face up to five years in jail.

Navalny, 36, has twice served short jail terms for his role in protests against Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Based on reporting by Interfax and AFP