In a “extremism” prosecution against three attorneys who represented Alexei Navalny, a Russian court was set to find the defendants guilty Friday, intensifying a crackdown on the Kremlin critic’s supporters even after his passing.
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against President Vladimir Putin in the streets thanks to the charismatic opposition leader, and the Kremlin mocked and retaliated against him when his investigations exposing the inner circle’s hidden wealth received millions of views online.
Nearly a year after Navalny’s death in an Arctic prison colony, Russian authorities have targeted his family members and associates, the majority of whom had already left the country.
In the Vladimir region, east of Moscow, where Navalny spent more than a year in a prison colony, a hearing in the trial against attorneys Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin is set for 10:00 am (0700 GMT).
The three were detained in October 2023 and face a potential penalty of six years in prison for their alleged involvement in a “extremist” organization.
Prior to his passing in February 2024, Navalny called the lawyers’ arrest “outrageous” and said it was a part of a plot to further isolate him while he was incarcerated.
Petushki, a town located roughly 115 kilometers (72 miles) east of Moscow, hosted the trial’s opening in September. The judge decided to keep it behind closed doors, allowing the media to cover just the sentencing, which is scheduled for this Friday.
In Russian courts, acquittals are essentially unheard of, particularly in political situations.
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