Lone Russian lawmaker to oppose Crimean annexation charged with embezzlement:
Russian authorities have charged Ilya Ponomaryov, the lone State Duma representative to vote against the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, with embezzlement.
The Federal Investigative Committee said on June 24 that a state-funded technological foundation had paid Ponomaryov $750,000 for lectures, but he had delivered only brief comments.
It also said it may put Ponomaryov on an international wanted list if he fails to turn up for the investigation.
Ponomaryov, a member of the A Just Russia party, voted against the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 after Russia took control of the Black Sea peninsula.
He is now in the United States and was stripped of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in April.
Ponomaryov denies wrongdoing and says the case against him is politically motivated. (Reuters, Interfax, TASS)
This ends our live-blogging for June 24. Be sure to check back tomorrow for our continuing coverage.