MOSCOW, Feb 8 (Reuters) - A Russian judge on Wednesday said that opposition leader Alexei Navalny was guilty of embezzlement, Interfax news agency reported, a decision that will force Navalny to drop his plan to run in next year’s presidential election.

Maxim Shemetov / Reuters A conviction for embezzlement will likely force Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny to drop out of the presidential race.

The judge at the court, in the city of Kirov, was still reading his verdict, but it was clear from his remarks Navalny would be found guilty, Interfax reported.

The agency cited a lawyer for Navalny as saying the decision would, under Russian law, disqualify Navalny from running in the election.