(Reuters) – Russian state prosecutors have requested a 20-year prison sentence for opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who is already serving an 11.5-year sentence on fraud and other charges. The verdict is expected to be announced on Friday. Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin, claims that the charges against him are politically motivated and designed to silence him.
The new charges against Navalny include creating an extremist organization, rehabilitating Nazism, making public calls for extremism (both at a rally and online), creating a non-governmental organization (Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Fund) that is allegedly associated with incitement to commit crimes, involving a minor in illegal acts (due to underage individuals attending Navalny’s rallies), and raising funds to finance extremism.
Navalny maintains his innocence and argues that these charges, like the ones he faced previously, are groundless and part of a wider attempt to stifle his political activism.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, denies any persecution of Navalny and asserts that his case is solely a legal matter for the courts. The Russian government has characterized Navalny as a Western-backed agent of political disruption.
If convicted, Navalny could face an additional 20 years in prison. However, Navalny has claimed that investigators have opened another terrorism case against him, which he considers absurd. This case could potentially result in a 30-year prison sentence, as terrorism in Russia carries a maximum penalty of 35 years.
Despite his legal battles, Navalny remains a prominent figure in Russian politics and a thorn in the side of President Putin. His arrest in January 2021 sparked widespread protests across Russia and condemnation from the international community.
Reporting by Filipp Lebedev and Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Gareth Jones and Conor Humphries
Credit: The Star : News Feed
