KIROV, May 21 (RAPSI) - The Leninsky Court of Kirov on Tuesday dismissed an appeal by Alexei Navalny's attorneys to reject the investigators' evidence in the Kirovles case, RIA Novosti reports from the court.

The court is studying written documents and was planning to analyze the protocols of listening to audio materials and examination of material evidence in the Kirovles case when Ofitserov's attorney Svetlana Davydova filed a complaint stating that the investigators' evidence cannot be used in court because it was collected in violation of the approved procedure.

Judge Sergei Blinov said the court had decided to uphold the prosecutors' request to dismiss the attorney's appeal. He said the investigators' reports and other documents had been submitted to the court in accordance with the approved procedure and by the established deadline.

According to the investigators, Navalny organized the theft of over 10,000 cubic meters of timber while serving as a voluntary adviser to the governor in the Kirov Region. The timber was allegedly stolen from the Kirovles company between May and September 2009 in collusion with Director of the Vyatka Timber Company Pyotr Ofitserov and Kirovles CEO Vyacheslav Opalyov.

The regional budget shortfall resulting from that transaction has been estimated at 16 million rubles ($510,906). If convicted, Navalny and Ofitserov face up to 10 years in prison. They will also be ineligible for civil service even if they are only given probation.

Opalyov, who entered into an agreement with the prosecution, has received a four-year suspended sentence.