Russia targets lawyers for imprisoned opposition leader Navalny

Since Navalny’s preliminary detention in 2021, he has been routinely subjected to harsh therapy behind bars — often positioned in solitary confinement and denied medical care.

Navalny press secretary Kira Yarmysh wrote on X — previously referred to as Twitter — that the legal professionals had been detained “in order that Alexei is with out authorized safety … and to ship a sign to different legal professionals: it’s harmful to defend him and different political prisoners.”

The house of a fourth Navalny lawyer, Olga Mikhailova, was raided Friday, however Mikhailova was stated to be in a foreign country.

The director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Basis, Ivan Zhdanov, wrote that authorities had searched the properties of legal professionals Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexey Liptser as a part of an investigation into their suspected involvement in an “extremist” group.

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The extremism cost in opposition to Navalny was primarily based on his management of the Anti-Corruption Basis, which labored to attract consideration to public graft and likewise known as for democracy and truthful elections in Russia.

Russia formally designated the muse an extremist group in 2021. The group’s high-profile investigations into alleged corruption included an inquiry into President Vladimir Putin’s private wealth and a lavish Black Sea palace allegedly linked to the president. The Kremlin has denied that Putin owns it.

Navalny’s legal professionals may withstand six years in jail if convicted.

“For sure, that is a part of a step to fully isolate Navalny,” Zhdanov wrote.

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Showing at a courtroom listening to Friday, Navalny was knowledgeable in regards to the raids by a Russian journalist. One of many legal professionals, Kobzev, was due in courtroom to characterize Navalny in a lawsuit that Navalny has filed in opposition to the jail the place he’s being held.

“Holy sh–,” Navalny responded to the information, apparently caught abruptly.

“Data has simply arrived that, after all, completely characterizes not solely my trial, but additionally the final state of legality in Russia,” Navalny stated, addressing the choose. “As in Soviet occasions, not solely political activists are persecuted and was political prisoners, but additionally their legal professionals.”

Navalny requested that the listening to be postponed, and it has been rescheduled for Nov. 1.