Imprisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is at risk of receiving an additional 20-year prison sentence, as indicated by his legal team. The severity of his situation has sparked concern among his supporters.
July 20 (UPI) — Navalny’s current predicament includes the prospect of a cumulative 20-year term in a maximum-security penal colony, as shared on his Twitter account.
In 2020, Navalny suffered an assassination attempt through the use of Novichok nerve agent. Upon returning to Russia after receiving medical treatment in Germany, he was promptly arrested in January 2021.
Initially sentenced to two and a half years in a penal colony, Navalny’s sentence was extended by an additional nine years in 2022 due to fraud charges.
International responses to Navalny’s imprisonment have been critical, with the United States, Britain, and the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressing their concerns.
Presently, Navalny is facing charges of extremism, to which he denies any involvement in inciting hatred. He argues that seeking justice in a Russian court leaves individuals vulnerable and hopeless.
In his closing statement, Navalny referred to the Wagner mutiny, highlighting the inconsistencies and failings of the state power in Russia.
Throughout his ordeal, Navalny’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, has voiced concerns about his deteriorating health and the lack of medical attention he has been receiving.
