Associated Press
A Russian court in Melekhovo, Russia, has convicted Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opposition leader, on charges of extremism and handed him a 19-year prison sentence. This marks Navalny’s fifth criminal conviction and his longest prison term to date. Navalny’s supporters view these charges as part of a deliberate Kremlin strategy to silence their most prominent adversary. Navalny is currently serving a nine-year term on other politically motivated charges, which will be served concurrently with his new sentence.
The charges against Navalny stem from the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements made by his top associates. The prosecution had initially demanded a 20-year prison sentence, a request that Navalny anticipated. The extremism trial took place behind closed doors in the penal colony where Navalny is currently imprisoned.
During the courtroom proceedings, Navalny appeared wearing prison attire, looking gaunt but defiant. As the judge delivered the verdict, Navalny stood alongside his lawyers and co-defendant, arms crossed, listening attentively. Surprisingly, the judge took less than 10 minutes to announce the verdict and sentence, a departure from the usual lengthy proceedings seen in Russia. The judge’s speech was barely audible, leaving reporters in a separate room to rely on broadcasts for information.
Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed the verdict on social media, as did Navalny himself through a post relayed by his team. In a subsequent statement, Navalny asserted that the length of his sentence was inconsequential, as he considers himself a political prisoner serving a life sentence under the regime.
A staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny has exposed official corruption and organized large-scale anti-Kremlin protests. His arrest in January 2021 followed his recovery from a nerve agent poisoning, which he attributed to the Kremlin. Russian authorities subsequently labeled Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation and associated offices as extremist organizations, thereby retroactively criminalizing their activities and subjecting anyone involved to potential prosecution.
Navalny’s associate, Daniel Kholodny, who had been relocated from another prison, stood trial alongside him and received an eight-year prison sentence. Navalny vehemently denies all charges against him, deeming them politically motivated. He also accuses the Kremlin of attempting to keep him incarcerated for life.
Prior to the verdict, Navalny released a statement on social media, expressing his expectation of a “huge… Stalinist term.” In that statement, he urged Russians to personally resist and support political prisoners, whether through distributing flyers or attending rallies. Navalny stressed that there is shame in taking no action and that it is essential not to succumb to intimidation.
Navalny is currently detained in a maximum-security prison in Melekhovo, located over 140 miles east of Moscow. He has spent extensive periods in a cramped solitary confinement cell, referred to as a “punishment cell,” due to alleged disciplinary infractions.
The verdict has prompted Navalny’s supporters to gather outside the prison in Melekhovo, seeking to show solidarity with the imprisoned politician. While they cannot enter the colony, they believe it is important to be present nearby for moral support.
Navalny is expected to be transferred to a “special regime” penal colony, characterized by the highest levels of security and strict inmate restrictions. The timing of this transfer remains unclear.
Under Russian law, Navalny has ten days to appeal the verdict, and if he does, the sentence will not be implemented until the appeal is resolved. Typically, only men serving life sentences or deemed “especially dangerous recidivists” are sent to “special regime” prisons. These prisons are fewer in number compared to other types of adult prisons in Russia.
Associated Press writer Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.
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