In Russia, three lawyers of oppositionist Alexei Navalny were sentenced to imprisonment in a colony by the Petushinsky District Court of the Vladimir Region.
They are accused of “participation in an extremist community.” The Russian publication Mediazona reported this today, January 17.
The lawyers were accused of using their status to regularly transmit letters from the oppositionist from the colony to his associates, thanks to which Navalny “continued to carry out the functions of the leader and director of the extremist community.”
According to the politician’s associates, Navalny and his defenders were monitored by hidden cameras during meetings in the colony.
The court sentenced lawyer Vadim Kobzev to five years and six months in prison, Alexey Liptser to five years, and Igor Sergunin to three years and six months in prison. Only Sergunin admitted guilt; in May 2024, he began “cooperating with the investigation.” Navalny’s lawyers have been under arrest since October 2023.
Liptser’s lawyer said that the verdict was expected, but the defense plans to challenge it.
Five people were also detained during the trial, including four journalists. Subsequently, it became known that no protocols were drawn up against the detainees and the reasons for the detention were not explained. They take written explanations from them about why they came to the city today, return their documents and release them one by one.
Navalny has been behind bars since the beginning of 2021. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a special regime colony in a case of extremism. In February 2024, it became known that he died in prison.
Source: Mediazona
Source: Racurs
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