Russian Court Sentences Navalny's Lawyers Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, Igor Sergunin to 3.5 to 5.5 Years for Extremism

Jan 17, 2025, 07:57 AM

A Russian court has sentenced three former lawyers of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years. Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin were convicted on charges of participating in an 'extremist organization.' The sentencing took place in the town of Petushki, in Russia's Vladimir region. The lawyers were accused of using their status to help Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence for extremism before his death in February 2023, communicate with his team. The case is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, with the lawyers' conviction drawing condemnation from international observers, including the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which criticized the verdict as politically motivated.