Russian investigators brought fresh charges against jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on August 11 that could add three years to the two and half year term he is already serving.
Observers have widely expected more charges to be brought against Navalny, as his current sentence would expire shortly before the next 2024 presidential election.
Russia’s Investigative Committee, which answers to Russian President Vladimir Putin, charged Navalny with the additional crime of "creating a non-profit organization that infringes on the identities and rights of citizens," the Moscow Times reports.
It said Navalny's FBK anti-corruption foundation — branded as extremist earlier this summer — "encouraged citizens to commit illegal acts."
Investigators also said Navalny had called on Russians to take part in unsanctioned rallies while "aware" of their "unlawful nature."
If found guilty, Navalny could face an extra three years in prison and could only be released after 2024, the year Russia is scheduled to hold a presidential election.
The new charges came a day after investigators launched a new criminal case against Navalny's key allies Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov over raising funds for an "extremist" organization.
Both Volkov and Zhdanov have left Russia, under pressure from authorities. The charges against them carry a maximum penalty of eight years in jail.
Related Articles
Drones strike Russia’s largest oil port of Primorsk
More than 30 Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s biggest oil terminal of Primorsk overnight on September 11–12, The Moscow Times reported on September 12. A pumping station caught fire as a ... more
Russian drones targeted Rzeszów airport hub, media claim
Russian drones, which breached Polish airspace in the early hours of September 10, might have been targeting the airport in Rzeszów, which is vital for the West’s military supplies to Ukraine, ... more
Second Russian LNG tanker arrives in Chinese port defying sanctions
A second vessel transporting LNG from Russia’s sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 terminal has docked at a Chinese port, Reuters reported on September 6 citing ship tracking data from the London Stock ... more
Most Read
-
Renewable capacity growth is faster than ever, but more acceleration needed to meet Paris 2030 goal, says IEA
1 year ago
-
Kyrgyzstan abandons attempt to rescue Russian climber trapped on icy summit of country’s highest mountain
21 days ago
-
BERTRAND: China after Communism, preparing for a post-CCP China
1 month ago
-
Hungarian economy faces weak growth, slow path to price stability, central bank report shows
2 months ago
-
UKRAINE REMONT: The battle to build: signs of recovery in Ukraine's construction industry
5 months ago