MOSCOW, April 24 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service confirmed on Thursday that opposition activist and anti-corruption crusader Alexei Navalny broke the conditions of the house arrest under which he was placed as a part of Yves Rocher embezzlement investigation.

The service determined that Navalny made a public post on the Internet, despite being specifically prohibited from doing so. This will be taken into account by the court.
Navalny has been placed under a house arrest since March 28, and is prohibited from using the Internet. Despite that, last Tuesday comments on the Yves Rocher embezzlement case were allegedly posted by him on his LiveJournal page.

Navalny and his brother Oleg stand accused in a fraud case involving cosmetics company Yves Rocher Vostok. Investigators allege that the Navalny brothers embezzled upwards of 26 million rubles (over $730,000) from the cosmetics company, as well as upwards of 4 million rubles (over $110,000) from the Multidisciplinary Processing Company by way of a fraud scheme. The brothers were further charged with having laundered 21 million rubles.

Alexei Navalny has already been given a suspended sentence of five years for the embezzlement of funds owned by Kirovles company.

Alexei Navalny ran for Moscow mayor in 2013, losing to the Kremlin-backed incumbent, but boosting his public exposure through a vigorous grassroots campaign. He gained just over 27 percent of the vote, well above what initial polls suggested he would get.