Two additional lawyers connected to Alexei Navalny, who has been placed on a list of terrorists and extremists, were detained by the Moscow Basmanny Court. The court’s decision, reported by RIA Novosti with attribution to the courtroom, confirms that the investigator sought detention as a preventive measure for Alexei Liptser. Previously, the court had already detained Igor Sergunin and Vadim Kobzev in relation to the same proceedings.
According to the court, all three lawyers are charged under Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which concerns participation in an extremist organization. The statute prescribes a penalty of two to six years in prison. The hearings were conducted behind closed doors at the investigator’s request, and as a result, official disclosures about the specific accusations were not provided at the time.
Earlier coverage noted a search of Navalny’s lawyers. Navalny’s own confinement has included a transfer to a single-occupancy cell, with reports indicating placement in strict conditions for serving the sentence, a penalty cell, or a cell-type facility.
In late September, a court settlement affirmed the legality of Navalny’s sentence in the extremism case. The session occurred behind closed doors due to safety concerns for the prosecutor, and the convict is expected to remain incarcerated through December 2038.
Meanwhile, a separate appellate ruling confirmed a sentence involving Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has been designated as a foreign agent within the Russian Federation.
These developments come as part of a broader pattern surrounding high-profile opposition figures and their legal teams, with authorities asserting strong measures against activities deemed extremist or a threat to public order. Legal observers note that the cases are proceeding in a highly controlled environment, with limited access to proceedings and constrained public disclosure of the specifics of the charges.
Analysts and international observers have closely watched the handling of these cases, emphasizing concerns about transparency, due process, and the ability of defense counsel to present evidence under challenging conditions. The legal process continues to unfold, with various court actions and appeals shaping the trajectory of several ongoing matters tied to Navalny and associated figures.
In this evolving context, the experience of Navalny and his legal team illustrates the broader pressures facing opposition advocates within the Russian judicial system, where charges related to extremism and related offenses are often pivotal to ongoing political and legal narratives.