MOSCOW, April 11 - RAPSI. Charges of economic crimes must be investigated irrespective of whether the defendant is an opposition blogger or an official, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RTVi international Russian-language private television network.

Speaking about "prominent blogger and opposition leader Alexei Navalny," Lavrov said that everyone must be equal before the law.

"Neither bloggers nor officials should be considered outside the facts of the case. We must decide if we have evidence that will stand up in court," Lavrov said.

The minister added that Navalny is not the only suspect in the Kirovles case.

According to investigators, in May to September 2009, Navalny, then a voluntary adviser to the Kirov governor, organized the theft of over 10,000 cubic meters of timber from Kirovles in collusion with Vyatka Timber Company Director Pyotr Ofitserov and Kirovles CEO Vyacheslav Opalyov.

If found guilty, Navalny and Ofitserov face up to 10 years in prison.

The Leninsky District Court in the town of Kirov will hear the case of alleged embezzlement on April 17.

On April 5 Navalny announced he intended to stand for president.