Navalny faces further years in prison
Alexei Navalny has been in prison for years under the harshest conditions. It was only in August that the Kremlin critic's sentence was increased to 19 years for "extremism". Now Navalny reports further accusations against him.
Russia has made new accusations against imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The authorities are accusing him of vandalism, which could result in a further three-year prison sentence, Navalny told online services, referring to a letter from Russia's investigative authority that he had received in prison. "They really do initiate new criminal proceedings against me every three months," he mocked.
Navalny is already serving a prison sentence for "extremism", among other things. Before his imprisonment, he had initiated nationwide protests in Russia. After being poisoned in the summer of 2020 and subsequently spending several months in hospital in Berlin, Navalny was arrested in January 2021 upon his return to Russia.
Since then, he has mainly communicated with the outside world via messages that he distributes via his lawyers in online networks. In August, his original nine-year prison sentence was increased to 19 years. A court also ordered Navalny's transfer to a penal colony with stricter prison conditions. He is frequently placed in solitary confinement, where he has spent at least 266 days so far. Since the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine, the Kremlin has once again stepped up its crackdown on Navalny, his confidants and opposition politicians in general.
Three of Navalny's lawyers were arrested in October. Most of the well-known activists and opposition figures have since left Russia or are in prison. Thousands of Russians have been detained, fined or imprisoned for protesting against the Russian offensive.
Vladimir Putin's government continues to target Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader. The recent accusation of vandalism against Navalny in prison could result in another three years added to his existing 19-year sentence for 'extremism'. This unfolding situation in Moscow is a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice and democracy in Russia, where Navalny has been a prominent figure in the opposition movement for many years.
Source: www.ntv.de
