Moscow’s Lefortovsky Court held an offsite hearing in two new cases against Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Tuesday inside the penal colony in Pokrov, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Moscow.

Footage shows the defence and prosecution sides and Navalny speaking. During the hour-long break, the opposition leader was able to talk to his wife, Yulia Navalnaya.

The politician pleaded not guilty in any new cases charged against him.

The prosecutor explained to the media that the state prosecution's position on the case would be stated at an appropriate trial stage after all the evidence had been examined and analysed.

The judge granted the Federal Penitentiary Service's request to consent the politician to an unscheduled visit with his wife at the hearing. The trial against Navalny will continue on February 21.

The fraud case against Navalny was initiated over a year ago. According to the investigation, the politician stole and spent more than 350 million rubles donated to the Anti-Corruption Fund for personal needs.

Another court case that will be reviewed concerns insulting a judge who sentenced Navalny to a fine for libel against World War II veteran Ignat Artemenko in June last year. Navalny was arrested on January 17 as he returned from Germany, where he had been recovering from alleged poisoning.

He was later sentenced to three and a half years in a penal colony for violating probation terms. He has denied the charges.