Medieval Trials in Russia

Stealing timber wood was typical of Robin Hood.

Highly controversial trial in Russia sentenced critic of the Putin’s regime, blogger Alexei Navalny, to five years for stealing timber wood. Few days ago, another lawyer was sentenced in a posthumous trial. Many critics condemn the practices of the KGB (former Russian secret service) as obsolete and cruel. Well, taken out of the context, they really belong to the middle ages.

       Alexei Navalny is a Russian lawyer who turned into political activist. He runs his blog, where he criticizes the corruption in the country under the rule of the president Vladimir Putin. Apart from that, he contributes to Reuters and Forbes Russia. He is recognized by the west as the man whom Vladimir Putin fears most and he was the only Russian included in the Time’s list of the 100 most important people of 2012. However, the Russian regime is very sensitive to anyone who might be a potential danger. Navalny was found guilty of stealing timber wood from a state owned company Kirovles in 2009. At that time, he was the advisor of the governor of Kirov, Russia, where the crime took place. Well, timber theft was popular during the Middle Ages. Actually, that was what Robin Hood did, definitely his companions cut out some trees while residing in the Sherwood Forrest.

Cadaver Synod that trialed the cadaver of the Pope
Formosus in 897. 

     Recently, a posthumous trial sentenced another lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, for tax evasion. Even the Russian human rights experts condemned the court with the death man. In 2008, Magnitsky pointed out to the corruption and tax fraud at the Russian authorities. However, the allegations turned against him and he died in custody 11 months later. The exact circumstances of his death are still unknown, leaving place for disputes.

In 897, Pope Stephen VII, held what became known as the “Cadaver Synod” with his predecessor Formosus. He accused him of perjury and illegal accession to the papal seat. The corpse of Formosus was dug out of the tomb and brought to the court room. Apparently, he did not abject against the verdict and gave back his papal vestment.  

      After the verdict, Navalny asked his followers not to stay idle, but fight on "to destroy the feudal statethat's being built in Russia,destroy the system of government where 83% of national wealth is owned by ahalf per cent of the population''. . 

       Well, it is another parallel with the feudal system of Middle Ages, when all the land belonged to the king and he just passed it down to his vassals. The sad about the whole history is that despite the kings and knights are long gone (replaced by the politicians and military servicemen), the redistribution of wealth is preserved. You can read in any book on modern economy of investment, that 90% of world’s wealth is in the hands of 10% of the population.