A top Russian opposition leader has vowed to continue his campaign to become president despite being found guilty of embezzlement in a retrial.

The ruling means Alexei Navalny cannot run in next year's election as people convicted of serious crimes are barred from seeking public office.

However, Navalny, who was given a five-year suspended prison sentence, pointed out that under the Russian constitution anyone not serving a jail term can run.

Image: Navalny (L) pictured in court in Kirov

And the 40-year-old, who has exposed corruption and heads the Progress party, said he was determined to continue his campaign.

He said: "What we have just seen is a telegram of sorts from the Kremlin, saying that they consider me, my team and people whose views I represent too dangerous to be allowed into the election campaign.


"We do not recognise this verdict, it will be overturned, and ... I have the right to run in the election."

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Meanwhile, Marina Litvinenko, the widow of murdered Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko, suggested to Sky News that Vladimir Putin and his allies may have played a part in the court's decision.

She said: "All judges and all courts in Russia are not independent. All decisions that were taken about Navalny were taken because of someone's wish and now we know who this might be.

"(Putin) doesn't like this strong opponent."

Mr Putin, 64, has said he will not run again for president when his current term ends in 2018, but many commentators still expect him to stand.

Image: Vladimir Putin could run again for president next year

If Navalny was allowed to run, he would be unlikely to defeat Mr Putin, who is still widely popular with approval ratings of 80%.

The 70-year-old ultra-nationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky and the 64-year old liberal Yabloko party leader Grigory Yavlinsky are also planning to run.

Navalny, found guilty by a Kirov court of embezzling 16 million rubles (£215,000) from a timber firm called Kirovles, was the driving force behind mass protests in Moscow against Mr Putin's rule in 2011-12.

The conviction comes as the wife of another Kremlin critic, Vladimir Kara-Murza - who is in hospital with major organ failure, told Sky News that those in charge of the Russian system are responsible for his suffering.

Doctors believe he was poisoned by an unidentified toxin - although medics in the Russian capital say they have no idea what it is.