“If each person wins 30,000 roubles and we have two million party members then it works out that Navalny, who so frivolously insults honest people, will owe us all 60 billion roubles (£1.2bn),” said Vladimir Burmatov.
Vadim Kobzev, Mr Navalny’s lawyer, promised to appeal the ruling, saying there was a genuine risk that large numbers of United Russia members could inundate his client with follow-up suits.
The term “party of crooks and thieves” became a meme after Mr Navalny, an anti-corruption campaigner, first used it in February last year as an off the cuff remark about United Russia during a radio debate.
Its popularity reflects growing disillusionment with the ruling political elite and contributed to a comparatively poor showing for the party at parliamentary elections in December.
President Vladimir Putin has distanced himself from United Russia and handed its leadership to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev last month.
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