Putin critic Alexei Navalny jailed for a further 19 years for ‘extremism’
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Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to another 19 years in prison on "extremism charges".
The 47-year-old, who is already in jail serving a sentence of more than 11 years, learned his fate in a closed-door trial today (Friday, August 4).
"It's going to be a long sentence," he said previously. "What is called 'Stalinist'."
Navalny is Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critic in Russia and his political movement is considered such a threat to the despot it has been been outlawed and called "extremist".
On August 20, 2020, he was even poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and hospitalised in a serious condition.
Following the ordeal, Navalny accused Putin of being responsible for the poisoning, allegations the Kremlin has denied. Russian prosecutors didn't open a criminal investigation into the incident.
The charges against Navalny relate to his role in an old movement, which authorities accused of trying to start a revolution against Putin.
Navalny's closing statement last month saw the politician commit to continuing to fight Russian authorities.
"For a new, free, rich country to be born, it must have parents," he said.
"Those who want it. Who expect it and who are willing to make sacrifices for its birth."
And prior to the sentencing, Navalny – who initially predicted he would get a further 18-year sentence – urged the Russian people not to rest on their laurels in the fight against Putin.
In a message posted on his behalf by lawyers to social media, Navalny said the outcome of this trial did not matter as he had also been threatened with terrorism charges, which could see him spend even longer behind bars.
- Breaking News
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