Sawt Falasteen - Navalny lawyers face long sentences in Russian 'extremism' trial

The charismatic opposition leader brought tens of thousands onto the streets to protest against President Vladimir Putin, while his investigations into the hidden wealth of Putin's inner circle racked up millions of views online -- drawing scorn and retribution from the Kremlin.

Following his death in an Arctic prison colony almost one year ago, Russian authorities have targeted Navalny's allies and relatives, most of whom had already fled abroad.

After a trial hearing on Friday in the Vladimir region, east of Moscow where Navalny spent over a year in a penal colony, a court spokesperson told AFP that verdicts in the trial of the three lawyers would be issued on January 17.

State and independent media had initially reported a verdict was expected Friday, and a handful of Navalny's backers who are still in the country and not in jail had travelled to the court.

The trio -- Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin -- were arrested in October 2023 on accusations of participating in an "extremist" organisation, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of six years in jail.

Before his death in February 2024, Navalny condemned the arrests as "outrageous", calling this part of a campaign to further isolate him in jail.

The trial, which opened in September in Petushki, a town about 115 kilometres (72 miles) east of Moscow, has been held behind closed doors.

Acquittals are practically unheard of in Russian courts, especially in political cases.

- 'Savage sentences' -

Investigators accused the lawyers of "using their status" to pass messages between Navalny and his associates, helping the Kremlin critic continue his outlawed political activity from behind bars.

While in prison, Navalny passed messages to his lawyers to post on his social media channels.

Topics ranged from criticism of Russia's military offensive on Ukraine to tongue-in-cheek dispatches of daily life behind bars.

Sergunin has pleaded guilty, independent media reported, while Kobzev and Liptser rejected the charges.

Kobzev was the most high-profile member of Navalny's legal team defending him in court. He also released statements on Navalny's health in prison.

In his final statement to the court, published by Novaya Gazeta, Kobzev said they were being prosecuted for "passing Navalny's thoughts on to other people," and compared the situation to Soviet-era repression under Joseph Stalin.

Prosecutors are demanding jail terms of at least five years for all three.

Amnesty International urged Russia to halt the "arbitrary prosecution".

Another member of Navalny's former legal team, Olga Mikhailova, who is in exile, wrote on Instagram that prosecutors are demanding "savage" sentences for lawyers who "honestly and professionally defended Navalny for many years".

Navalny died in unclear circumstances in the prison colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence for leading an "extremist" organisation.

Russia has arrested journalists who covered his court hearings and added his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, to a "terrorists and extremists" blacklist.

Moscow in 2021 banned Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, known for investigations into the alleged corruption of Putin's officials, labelling it an "extremist" organisation.

The Kremlin has rejected accusations from Navalny's allies and widow that Putin ordered him killed in jail.

He nearly died in 2020 after being poisoned on a campaign trip to Siberia ahead of regional elections.

An investigation by Navalny's team and Western and independent Russian media outlets connected the assassination attempt to agents from Russia's FSB security service.

The West and Moscow were in talks about freeing Navalny in a prisoner exchange when he died. Several of his associates were later freed in the eventual deal.

A.AlHaj--SF-PST