Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny found guilty on new embezzlement charges

A Russian court on Tuesday found jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny guilty on embezzlement charges that could see his prison sentence significantly extended as Moscow seeks to wipe out remaining pockets of dissent.

"Navalny committed fraud -- the theft of property by an organised group," judge Margarita Kotova said, according to an AFP reporter present at the trial.

She also found him guilty on a less severe charge of contempt of court.

Investigators accused Navalny of stealing for personal use several million dollars' worth of donations that were given to his political organisations.

The prosecutor last week called for Navalny's sentence to be extended to 13 years and for him to be transferred to a "strict regime" penal colony, which would place him in harsher conditions.

Navalny denies the charges.