Eight Who Squared Off Against Putin and Lost

Alexei Navalny, the Russian protest leader, was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, July 18, for embezzling nearly half a million dollars from a timber firm. Navalny says the charges were politically motivated and was a leading campaigner again

Famous Russian Activist Who Got Too Vocal Alexei Navalny, the Russian protest leader, was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, July 18, for embezzling nearly half a million dollars from a timber firm. Navalny says the charges were politically motivated and was a leading campaigner again Alexei Navalny, the Russian protest leader, was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday, July 18, for embezzling nearly half a million dollars from a timber firm. Navalny says the charges were politically motivated and was a leading campaigner against Putin. He's routinely accused the Russian president of corruption in his blogs. His arrest comes several months after he announced an interest in running for president of Russia. (source-BBC) REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Boris Berezovsky was one of the most powerful Russian oligarchs who helped install Putin as president. He later became a vocal critic of Putin’s administration. In 2000, Berezovsky fled to the U.K., where he was granted political asylum after Russia accus

The Campaigner-Turned-Critic Boris Berezovsky was one of the most powerful Russian oligarchs who helped install Putin as president. He later became a vocal critic of Putin’s administration. In 2000, Berezovsky fled to the U.K., where he was granted political asylum after Russia accus Boris Berezovsky was one of the most powerful Russian oligarchs who helped install Putin as president. He later became a vocal critic of Putin’s administration. In 2000, Berezovsky fled to the U.K., where he was granted political asylum after Russia accused him of embezzlement. In March of this year he was found dead in his home. It was first reported as a suicide, but the circumstancesh remain a mystery. (source: The Guardian) REUTERS

This former officer of the Russian FSB secret service publically accused his superiors of ordering the assassination of Boris Berezovsky (who survived). He was immediately arrested for “exceeding the authority of his position.” After his release, he fled

Russian Secret Service Agent Who Blew the Whistle This former officer of the Russian FSB secret service publically accused his superiors of ordering the assassination of Boris Berezovsky (who survived). He was immediately arrested for “exceeding the authority of his position.” After his release, he fled This former officer of the Russian FSB secret service publically accused his superiors of ordering the assassination of Boris Berezovsky (who survived). He was immediately arrested for “exceeding the authority of his position.” After his release, he fled to the U.K., where he was granted asylum and began writing books accusing Putin of corruption. Shortly after he accused Putin of ordering the murder of a Russian journalist, Litvinenko died mysteriously of poisoning by radioactive polonium-210 in November 2006. (source: The New York Times) REUTERS/Vasily Djachkov

Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot—The Moscow-based feminist punk-rock group is best known for famously protesting Putin through their lyrics and performances. In March 2012, three members were arrested, charged and convicted of “hooliganism.” They were each sentenced to tw

Pussy Riot—The Moscow-based feminist punk-rock group is best known for famously protesting Putin through their lyrics and performances. In March 2012, three members were arrested, charged and convicted of “hooliganism.” They were each sentenced to two years imprisonment. Amnesty International designated the women prisoners of conscience. Putin responded by saying that the band "got what they asked for.”

Source: The Guardian

REUTERS/Denis Sinyakov

Serga the Tiger

Serga the tiger - Serga, the “wild” tiger that Putin infamously shot with a tranquilizer gun in order to “save” a crowd of people before she “attacked,” was actually taken from a Russian zoo and used as a stunt. Serga sadly died after she was unable

Serga the tiger - Serga, the “wild” tiger that Putin infamously shot with a tranquilizer gun in order to “save” a crowd of people before she “attacked,” was actually taken from a Russian zoo and used as a stunt. Serga sadly died after she was unable to recover from the three tranquiller shots used by scientists during the PR stunt, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Source: The Guardian

REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin

<p>Mikhail Khodorkovsky enjoyed his Forbes’ 2004 ranking as one of the richest men in the world … until he decided to criticize Putin and accuse him of state corruption at a meeting with the Russian President. Shortly after, the Russian government arres

Wealthy Businessman Who was Too Critical

Mikhail Khodorkovsky enjoyed his Forbes’ 2004 ranking as one of the richest men in the world … until he decided to criticize Putin and accuse him of state corruption at a meeting with the Russian President. Shortly after, the Russian government arres

Mikhail Khodorkovsky enjoyed his Forbes’ 2004 ranking as one of the richest men in the world … until he decided to criticize Putin and accuse him of state corruption at a meeting with the Russian President. Shortly after, the Russian government arrested and charged him and his business partner, Platon Lebedev, with fraud. They were both found guilty and sentenced to nine years in prison in May 2005. While they were in prison, they were further charged and convicted of embezzlement and money laundering, extending their prison sentence to 2017. They are both considered prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International.

Source: Vanity Fair

REUTERS/Tatyana Makeyeva

Nicknamed Russia’s Rupert Murdoch, Vladimir Gusinsky was a media mogul who ran the country’s first private TV network, NTV, which was highly critical of Russia’s government. That didn’t fly with Putin. Gusinksy was arrested for allegedly stealing property

Media Mogul Critical of the Russian Government Nicknamed Russia’s Rupert Murdoch, Vladimir Gusinsky was a media mogul who ran the country’s first private TV network, NTV, which was highly critical of Russia’s government. That didn’t fly with Putin. Gusinksy was arrested for allegedly stealing property Nicknamed Russia’s Rupert Murdoch, Vladimir Gusinsky was a media mogul who ran the country’s first private TV network, NTV, which was highly critical of Russia’s government. That didn’t fly with Putin. Gusinksy was arrested for allegedly stealing property and embezzling $300 million from the state-owned Russia Video Company; he was released after his defense claimed the charges were politically motivated. He immediately fled to Spain. Putin’s government has made several unsuccessful attempts to extradite him, but for now, he’s managed to skirt the Russians. (source: PBS) REUTERS/Alexander Natruskin

<p>New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently claimed that Putin stole one of his Super Bowl rings during a trip to Moscow eight years ago. At the time, Kraft claimed he gave it to the Russian president because he didn’t want to cause an internati

Owner of the New England Patriots

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently claimed that Putin stole one of his Super Bowl rings during a trip to Moscow eight years ago. At the time, Kraft claimed he gave it to the Russian president because he didn’t want to cause an internati

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently claimed that Putin stole one of his Super Bowl rings during a trip to Moscow eight years ago. At the time, Kraft claimed he gave it to the Russian president because he didn’t want to cause an international incident. Now, he says it was stolen. After Putin heard Kraft’s accusations, he said he’d buy him a new ring.

Source: CBS

REUTERS/Danny Moloshok