The Moscow Military Court recently sentenced Leonid Volkov, a prominent ally of Alexey Navalny, to 18 years of imprisonment in absentia along with a fine of 2 million rubles, equivalent to approximately $25,000. Volkov, who currently resides in Lithuania, was charged with a litany of offenses. These include 18 counts of disseminating military “fakes,” 16 charges related to justifying terrorism over the internet, four charges of financial fraud, and two charges of politically motivated vandalism. The court also barred Volkov from internet use for 28 years. For further details, you can read the complete report here.
Beyond these primary charges, Volkov faced accusations of rehabilitating Nazism online, enticing minors to participate in protests, establishing a non-profit organization infringing on civil liberties, and organizing and financing an “extremist group.” Volkov’s legal woes began earlier, having been on a wanted list since January 2021. He left Russia in 2019 and has since been vocal on social media about his legal battles and political stance. He announced the court ruling via Telegram, urging his supporters to back political prisoners in Russia.
Volkov’s name made headlines before, with the European Court of Human Rights ruling in his favor over an illegal arrest in 2018, awarding him a compensation of €6000. His 2018 and 2019 imprisonments for allegedly motivating unsanctioned protests via live streaming were criticized by Amnesty International.
Additionally, Volkov’s father, Mikhail Volkov, who once led the Department of Algebra and Fundamental Informatics at Ural Federal University, was arrested earlier this year following a raid on his home in Russia. Accusations against him involve financing an “extremist organization.” His detention drew concern from the Canadian Mathematical Society and the European Mathematical Society, who highlighted Mikhail’s declining health.
The legal actions against Volkov come in the wake of continued pressures on Alexey Navalny’s associates. The Russian government has been active in detaining, jailing, and sentencing individuals associated with Navalny, who died in prison last year under unexpected circumstances. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, remains under threat of arrest as well. The repercussions of these events emphasize the complex legal and political landscape in Russia, impacting activists, legal professionals, and international observers alike.