Three Lawyers Representing Navalny Receive Years in Penal Colony for 'Extremist Activity'
A Russian court has handed down lengthy prison sentences to three lawyers associated with opposition leader Alexei Navalny, accusing them of involvement in an extremist group.
A Russian court has sentenced three lawyers who represented the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny to prison for allegedly participating in an extremist group.
Igor Sergunin, Alexei Liptser, and Vadim Kobzev were detained in October 2023 and added to an official 'terrorists and extremists' list the next month.
In a closed trial held in the Vladimir region, they received sentences of 3.5, 5, and 5.5 years, respectively.
These sentences have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments, including the United States, which condemned the convictions as an attack on legal representation for political prisoners.
The lawyers were charged with assisting Navalny in maintaining his political activities from prison, a claim that has been dismissed as politically motivated.
Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny's widow, described the three men as 'political prisoners' and demanded their immediate release.
Human rights group OVD-Info commented that this case marks a dangerous step-up in repression against dissent defenders under President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Even during his imprisonment, Navalny, who died in February 2024, continued to criticize the government through his lawyers and legal actions, such as filing lawsuits over his prison treatment.
Critics view the prosecution of his lawyers as part of a larger crackdown on Kremlin opponents.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on this specific case, but authorities have previously labeled Navalny and his supporters as destabilizing forces backed by Western nations.
Igor Sergunin, Alexei Liptser, and Vadim Kobzev were detained in October 2023 and added to an official 'terrorists and extremists' list the next month.
In a closed trial held in the Vladimir region, they received sentences of 3.5, 5, and 5.5 years, respectively.
These sentences have drawn criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments, including the United States, which condemned the convictions as an attack on legal representation for political prisoners.
The lawyers were charged with assisting Navalny in maintaining his political activities from prison, a claim that has been dismissed as politically motivated.
Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny's widow, described the three men as 'political prisoners' and demanded their immediate release.
Human rights group OVD-Info commented that this case marks a dangerous step-up in repression against dissent defenders under President Vladimir Putin’s regime.
Even during his imprisonment, Navalny, who died in February 2024, continued to criticize the government through his lawyers and legal actions, such as filing lawsuits over his prison treatment.
Critics view the prosecution of his lawyers as part of a larger crackdown on Kremlin opponents.
The Kremlin has declined to comment on this specific case, but authorities have previously labeled Navalny and his supporters as destabilizing forces backed by Western nations.
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