Russian state prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to fine Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny 950,000 roubles ($13,000) for slandering a World War II veteran, a charge he calls politically motivated.&nbsp;

President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic was jailed this month for almost three years for parole violations that he said were trumped up. The West has condemned the case and is discussing possible sanctions on Russia.&nbsp;

The judge said the verdict would be announced on Saturday - the same day that Navalny is due to appeal against his imprisonment.&nbsp;

The 44-year-old anti-corruption activist is accused of defaming a veteran, who took part in a promotional video backing constitutional reforms last year. The reform, approved in a referendum, will let Putin run for two more terms in the Kremlin after 2024 if he wants to.&nbsp;

Navalny, who returned to Russia last month from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a military-grade nerve toxin in Siberia, described the people in the video as traitors and corrupt lackeys.&nbsp;

Veterans of what Moscow calls the Great Patriotic War are widely revered in Russia, and criticising them is regarded as socially unacceptable and insulting.&nbsp;

Navalny has said his comment was not directed specifically at the veteran, and that the authorities are using the charge to smear his reputation.&nbsp;

At the hearings, he has clashed with the judge in heated exchanges and been told he could be removed from the court.&nbsp;

He used his closing arguments to call the case a legal nonsense. He then said it was pointless to discuss legal matters with the court and asked the judge and prosecutor if they knew a good recipe for pickled gherkins.&nbsp;

As the state prosecutor addressed the court to recommend a sentence, Navalny interrupted her to joke: "Execution?"

Russian state prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to fine Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny 950,000 roubles ($13,000) for slandering a World War II veteran, a charge he calls politically motivated.

Russian state prosecutors on Tuesday asked a court to fine Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny 950,000 roubles ($13,000) for slandering a World War II veteran, a charge he calls politically motivated. President Vladimir Putin's most prominent critic was jailed this month for almost three years for parole violations that he said were trumped up. The West has condemned the case and is discussing possible sanctions on Russia. The judge said the verdict would be announced on Saturday - the same day that Navalny is due to appeal against his imprisonment. The 44-year-old anti-corruption activist is accused of defaming a veteran, who took part in a promotional video backing constitutional reforms last year. The reform, approved in a referendum, will let Putin run for two more terms in the Kremlin after 2024 if he wants to. Navalny, who returned to Russia last month from Germany, where he had been recovering from a near-fatal poisoning with a military-grade nerve toxin in Siberia, described the people in the video as traitors and corrupt lackeys. Veterans of what Moscow calls the Great Patriotic War are widely revered in Russia, and criticising them is regarded as socially unacceptable and insulting. Navalny has said his comment was not directed specifically at the veteran, and that the authorities are using the charge to smear his reputation. At the hearings, he has clashed with the judge in heated exchanges and been told he could be removed from the court. He used his closing arguments to call the case a legal nonsense. He then said it was pointless to discuss legal matters with the court and asked the judge and prosecutor if they knew a good recipe for pickled gherkins. As the state prosecutor addressed the court to recommend a sentence, Navalny interrupted her to joke: "Execution?"

Prosecutors seek $13,000 slander fine for Navalny

The longest serving civilian in US Air Force history, a World War II veteran who fought under General George Patton, will retire in September after 70 years, the military said yesterday. 
 
Anthony Duno, who was drafted into the US Army in 1944 at age 18, participated in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge and was assigned to the Nuremberg Trials, the US Air Force said in a profile posted on its website. 
 
&quot;I really believe the Battle of the Bulge was the most important, severe point of the war. It was so extraordinary because so many things happened that had never happened before,&quot; Duno said. 
 
Duno&#39;s 70 years include both military and civil service. 
 
After the war, Duno, a native of the Bronx in New York, became a civilian Air Force employee specialised in reselling US military facilities that were phased out in Europe. 
 
He was honoured on Friday at the Pentagon with a ceremony attended by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. 
 
&quot;The Air Force was my life. I will deeply miss all the comrades, all the friends I&#39;ve known,&quot; he said in the profile. 
 
Duno, who keeps a chest filled with mementos from his life, including a Christmas card from Patton, will retire in the northeastern state of New Hampshire. 
 
(AFP)

Anthony Duno, a World War II veteran was drafted into the US Army in 1944, at age 18. His 70 years include both military and civil service

The longest serving civilian in US Air Force history, a World War II veteran who fought under General George Patton, will retire in September after 70 years, the military said yesterday. Anthony Duno, who was drafted into the US Army in 1944 at age 18, participated in the Normandy campaign, the Battle of the Bulge and was assigned to the Nuremberg Trials, the US Air Force said in a profile posted on its website. "I really believe the Battle of the Bulge was the most important, severe point of the war. It was so extraordinary because so many things happened that had never happened before," Duno said. Duno's 70 years include both military and civil service. After the war, Duno, a native of the Bronx in New York, became a civilian Air Force employee specialised in reselling US military facilities that were phased out in Europe. He was honoured on Friday at the Pentagon with a ceremony attended by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. "The Air Force was my life. I will deeply miss all the comrades, all the friends I've known," he said in the profile. Duno, who keeps a chest filled with mementos from his life, including a Christmas card from Patton, will retire in the northeastern state of New Hampshire. (AFP)

Longest serving US Air Force civilian to retire after 70 years

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Prosecutors seek $13,000 slander fine for Navalny

Longest serving US Air Force civilian to retire after 70 years