Russia has sentenced three lawyers of Alexei Navalny to prison for relaying his messages to the public. This move signals a deeper crackdown on dissent, alarming rights groups and international observers.
Lawyers Punished for Relaying Messages
The court sentenced Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin to up to five and a half years. Authorities accused them of aiding an “extremist organization” by passing Navalny’s messages from prison. These lawyers were among the few people able to visit Navalny during his 19-year sentence. They transmitted his views on the Kremlin’s policies, including criticism of the Ukraine war.
Passing messages through lawyers is common in Russian prisons. However, officials claimed these communications helped Navalny plan extremist activities.
Global Condemnation of the Verdicts
The sentences drew criticism from the United States, Britain, France, and Germany. Officials called the verdicts an attack on human rights and the legal profession. Navalny’s widow, Yulia Navalnaya, labeled the lawyers as political prisoners and demanded their immediate release. Rights groups warned this action could discourage defending political prisoners altogether.
Mounting Risks for Legal Advocates
Rights monitors, like OVD, said these trials aim to silence lawyers and undermine legal protections in Russia. Kobzev compared the crackdown to Stalin-era repression, emphasizing the increasing dangers of dissent. As the Kremlin escalates its control, defending political prisoners grows ever more perilous.
