Longtime Russian dissident and critic Alexei Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison on a roster of extremism-related charges following a closed-door hearing. The scandalous sentencing prompted denunciation from numerous countries, international organizations and human rights groups.
According to a report from Interfax, the Moscow City Court convicted Navalny of organizing an extremist community, financing extremist activities, advocating publicly for extremist actions, rehabilitating Nazism, involving a minor in antisocial behavior, and orchestrating an association that infringes upon the rights and liberties of citizens.
Daniel Kholodny, the former technical director for Navalny’s YouTube channel, was also condemned to a sentence of eight years for participating in an extremist community, as well as for financing extremist activities.
Navalny is currently serving a three-and-a-half-year sentence for breaching his parole in a contentious fraud case. Following the completion of this sentence and a further nine-year sentence resulting from another fraud case, he will commence his most recent sentence.
The newly sentenced opposition leader shared his thoughts in a statement following the imposition of his sentence. He reminded his audience that the number of years didn’t matter, as “the sentencing figure is not for me. It is for you. You, not me, are being frightened and deprived of the will to resist. You are being forced to surrender your country of Russia without a fight to the gang of traitors, thieves, and scoundrels who have seized power. Putin must not achieve his goal. Do not lose the will to resist.”
Numerous countries and organizations swiftly condemned the sentencing, citing its politically charged nature. This international group includes the US, the EU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
The new sentence for Navalny is a grim continuation of the recent crackdown against the activist who has been in custody since January 2021, when he returned to Russia after a suspected poisoning with Novichok nerve agent, allegedly administered by the FSB. He has since alleged ploys by authorities to provoke him into committing crimes and intentional damage to his health by placing him in a “punishment cell.”
A notable talking point remains a video, “Putin’s Palace,” released by Navalny’s team on Youtube, accusing Russian President Vladimir Putin of surreptitiously building a villa on Russia’s Black Sea coast.
Last month, another Russian court sentenced a member of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation on similarly extremist charges.
The full coverage of Navalny’s court proceedings can be found on JURIST – News.