Reports from major news outlets covering protests in Moscow

Russian Court Sentences Navalny's Lawyers to 3.5 to 5.5 Years for Extremism Amid Kremlin Crackdown

Jan 17, 2025, 08:12 AM

Three lawyers who previously represented the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years by a Russian court in the town of Petushki, east of Moscow. Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Alexei Liptser were convicted on charges of participating in an 'extremist organization.' The sentencing is seen as part of the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to suppress dissent, following Navalny's death in a Russian prison camp in February 2024. The lawyers were arrested in October 2023, amid increasing pressure on Navalny's associates. The case against the lawyers is considered politically motivated, aimed at deterring legal representation for opposition figures.