Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has been sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges, according to Russian media reports. This latest development comes as part of an intensifying crackdown on dissent in Russia, and is seen as a blow to Navalny, a vocal critic of President Putin.
Navalny was accused of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities, and other crimes. He was found guilty at the high-security penal colony where he has been detained. This sentence adds to the 11-and-a-half years he is already serving in a maximum security facility on fraud and other charges that he claims are politically motivated.
Navalny and his supporters argue that his arrest and imprisonment are meant to silence his criticism of Putin. The trial took place behind closed doors at the penal colony where he is held.
The verdict has raised concerns about the brutal crackdown on Putin’s opponents, which has escalated since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The European Union quickly condemned the sentence, expressing “deep concern about reports of repeated ill-treatment, unjustified and unlawful disciplinary measures, and harassment amounting to physical and psychological torture by prison authorities against Mr. Navalny.”
Navalny’s imprisonment has been a cause for concern due to his previous poisoning. In a joint investigation by CNN and the group Bellingcat, the Russian Security Service (FSB) was implicated in Navalny’s poisoning. The investigation revealed that an elite unit at the FSB had followed Navalny and even chemical weapons experts were involved. Russia denies any involvement in the poisoning.
Moreover, the Russian government has cracked down on internal opposition and free speech since the Ukraine invasion. The country has implemented an expanded and intentionally vague law on “foreign agents” and restricted access to social media platforms and Western news sites.
Navalny, despite being in prison, has continued to criticize the conflict in Ukraine. On the anniversary of the invasion, he called it “an unjust war of aggression against Ukraine under ridiculous pretexts.”
The sentencing of Navalny to 19 years in prison further highlights the challenges faced by opposition leaders in Russia and the crackdown on dissent under President Putin’s regime. The international community continues to voice concerns about the treatment of Navalny and the erosion of democratic values in the country.