Moscow [Russia], April 30 (ANI): A judge in Moscow upheld a defamation conviction Thursday against jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, who joined a court hearing via video link, in his first public appearance since he went on hunger strike.

According to CNN, Navalny used the platform to launch a broadside against President Vladimir Putin and his government, likening him to the foolish "naked king" from "The Emperor's New Clothes" children's tale and calling the judge and prosecutors "traitors."He was jailed in February in a separate case for breaking parole conditions, despite being in Germany recovering from poisoning with the military grade nerve agent Novichok when he was accused of failing to report to parole officers. Navalny blames the Kremlin for the attempt on his life, which the government has repeatedly denied.