Russian authorities have opened a third investigation against Aleksei Navalny, who is considered one of President Vladimir Putin's harshest critics.
On December 24, investigators claimed that Navalny embezzled more than $3 million in 2007.
They accused him of using front companies to embezzle the funds from his former Union of Right Forces political party.
Navalny called the allegations "absurd." A former senior figure in the party also denied the theft.
Navalny is a prominent blogger and anticorruption activist.
The 36-year-old lawyer has organized several mass protests against President Putin in recent years.
He is already being investigated in two cases for siphoning off money from a postal business and filing false bills.
On December 24, investigators claimed that Navalny embezzled more than $3 million in 2007.
They accused him of using front companies to embezzle the funds from his former Union of Right Forces political party.
Navalny called the allegations "absurd." A former senior figure in the party also denied the theft.
Navalny is a prominent blogger and anticorruption activist.
The 36-year-old lawyer has organized several mass protests against President Putin in recent years.
He is already being investigated in two cases for siphoning off money from a postal business and filing false bills.
