Russian justice
Navalny’s lawyers sentenced to long prison camp
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The Kremlin allowed its harshest critic, Alexei Navalny, to die in custody. Now the persecution is directed against the men who have always provided him with legal support.
A Russian court has sentenced three lawyers for Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who died in custody in 2024, to long prison terms in a prison camp. Several Russian media reported from the court in the town of Petushki, east of Moscow, that Navalny’s well-known defender Vadim Kobsev was sentenced to five and a half years in a prison camp.
The lawyer Alexei Lipzer received a prison sentence of five years, Igor Sergunin three and a half years. All were convicted of alleged involvement in an extremist organization, as the Sotavision portal reported on Telegram.
Judge Yulia Schilowa therefore remained in line with the prosecution’s proposals, which had demanded five and a half years in prison for Sergunin. The “Mediazona” portal reported a large crowd in the court, which held the controversial trial behind closed doors. “Guys, you are heroes! We are proud of you, you are the best people in Russia!” someone shouted to the lawyers, according to Mediazona.
Photos showed dense crowds in the hallways of the court. “Sotavision” reported that its correspondent was temporarily detained by the police – under the pretext that he looked like a wanted thief. Other portals also reported harassment against trial observers, including lawyers who expressed solidarity with the defendants.
Proceedings are considered politically motivated
The Kremlin opponent’s lawyers are accused of belonging to an extremist organization – meaning the anti-corruption fund founded by Navalny. The lawyers are said to have published forbidden messages from their client from prison to the public.
The process began in September 2024. The defense attorneys were arrested in October 2023, while trials against Navalny were still ongoing. The proceedings are considered politically motivated.
Navalny’s team in exile abroad said it was probably no coincidence that the verdict against the lawyers came on the anniversary of the return of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s opponent to Russia. Navalny returned to Russia on January 17, 2021 after being treated in Germany for a poison attack with the chemical weapon Novichok. He died in the prison camp in February last year under unclear circumstances. His relatives accuse Putin of murder.
“Novaya Gazeta” report on the defendants’ closing statements
dpa
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.