A Russian court on Monday began sentencing opponent Alexei Navalny in a new case of alleged extremism in which he could be sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to the France-Presse agency (AFP), the trial will take place in the maximum security prison of Melekhovo, 250 kilometers from Moscow, where Navalny is being held.
In this new trial, Navalny is accused of financing an “extremist organization”.
According to AFP, Navalny was present at the hearing this Monday, accompanied by defense lawyers.
The 47-year-old Russian opposition leader has been in prison since his return to the country in January 2021 after recovering in a hospital in Germany after being poisoned with poisonous gas (Novichok) in Russia.
After the start of the Russian military campaign against Ukraine in February 2022, most of the oppositionists who have not left the country are being arrested or warrants have been issued for denouncing or criticizing the conflict.
Notably, Navalny was previously involved in an anti-corruption case and was sentenced to nine years in prison for “fraud”.
For Navalny it was a “political judgement”.
Today, at the opening of the trial that began in the prison where he is, Navalny asked the authorities to allow the relatives to attend the hearing, but the request was rejected.
Defense lawyers have ten days to consult the 196 files submitted today by the prosecution.
Navalny continues to be politically active through comments posted by his associates on social networks.
One of Navalny’s spokespersons, Kira Iarmych, told France Presse today that despite his imprisonment, the oppositionist is subject to a new trial because of his political activities.
According to the same source, the trial that started today should have been open to the public, but the judge ruled that the hearing would take place “behind closed doors”.
Navalny’s associates also mention that the prisoner has been subjected to “very harsh” treatment and has been subjected for the 16th time to the “disciplinary cell” where living conditions are particularly precarious.
Another opponent of the Kremlin regime, Vladimir Kara-Mourza, was sentenced last April to 25 years in prison “for high treason”.
Last December, another oppositionist, Ilia Iachine, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for criticizing Russia’s offensive against Ukraine.
Source: DN
