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Russia Jails Navalny's Lawyers for Passing Prison Messages Used in His Posthumous Book

Jan 17, 2025, 09:00 AM

A Russian court has sentenced three lawyers who represented the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years on charges of extremism. The lawyers—Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin—were arrested in October 2023 and accused of participating in an 'extremist organization' by allegedly facilitating Navalny's political activities from prison. Authorities claimed they passed messages from Navalny, which formed part of his posthumously published book 'The Patriot.' The trial was held behind closed doors, and the lawyers were added to an official list of 'terrorists and extremists' in November. The sentencing marks an escalation in the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent, reaching levels unseen since Soviet times. Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, died in prison in February 2024.