(CNN) -- Kremlin critic and Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been convicted of misappropriating $500,000 worth of state-owned timber. A court freed him from detention on July 19, pending an appeal of the court's ruling against him. Navalny has been campaigning for the Moscow mayoralty -- officially registering as a candidate the day before his conviction -- and there have been allegations his trial has been politically-motivated. Russian authorities insist that is not the case. LATEST: "I'll win Moscow," says Navalny Who is Alexei Navalny? Navalny is a corruption fighting lawyer who famously branded the ruling United Russia party -- founded by President Vladimir Putin -- "the party of crooks and thieves."
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Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny has been convicted of misappropriation
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A court freed him from detention on July 19, pending an appeal of the court's ruling against him
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Navalny famously branded the ruling United Russia party "the party of crooks and thieves"
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He claims his trial was politically motivated, an allegation the authorities have denied
Moscow
Moscow
Speaking to reporters outside court after he was released, Navalny said he would return to @placeholder to discuss his next steps with his staff, RIA Novosti said.
Moscow
Moscow
Once in @placeholder, he will decide whether to boycott the election or continue his campaign, he said, according to the news agency.