Research Committee Russia announced on Thursday the opening of a new criminal case against the prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny, alleging extremism, terrorism, and a charge described as prolonging Nazism, for alleged offenses he is accused of committing since returning to the country in January 2021. The case adds to a long, contentious legal saga that has kept Navalny under tight scrutiny in custody, drawing international attention to the methods used by authorities to press political cases against dissenting voices.
“I can confirm that a new case has been filed against him,” Navalny’s legal team indicated, noting that the charges include incitement to extremism and terrorism, dissemination of propaganda linked to terrorism, the funding of extremist activities, and a restitution claim tied to Nazism. These accusations come amid a broader pattern of prosecutions that many observers view as politically motivated, though officials maintain they reflect adherence to the law and public order.
Earlier this year, the Lefortovo court in Moscow delivered a ruling that condemned Navalny for fraud and contempt of court, imposing a nine-year sentence in a penal colony and a fine of 1.2 million rubles, roughly 20,000 euros at current exchange rates. The sentence forms part of a multi-case frame used to address various offenses alleged to involve Navalny and a circle of associates as they challenged state narratives.
According to the Investigation Committee, Navalny and what authorities termed his “accomplices” are accused of diverting approximately 2.6 million rubles (around 43,000 euros) from a group of ordinary citizens. Navalny remains imprisoned in a penal colony situated in Meglevo, within the Vladimir region, where his current detention continues to be subject to regular court rulings and ongoing scrutiny by state investigators.
The reaction from Navalny’s camp was swift, with comments interpreted as sardonic by supporters who have followed his outspoken style. Observers have drawn parallels to the fictional world of Sherlock Holmes, likening Navalny’s self-perception to a modern-day Moriarty as the public discourse around his status intensifies. Navalny himself asserted on social media that he perceives himself as a unique force, challenging the notion that two years behind bars equates to political isolation when he says his alleged activities nonetheless persisted.
He claimed that the Investigative Committee remained vigilant, stating that officials notified him about a new case during his confinement after alleging continued leadership of extremist activities from prison. In his words, he framed the situation as evidence that he remained in operational control of a supposed movement, although this portrayal was presented with a provocative tone designed to underscore his stance against what he calls a politically motivated crackdown.
Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmish, supported the existence of the new case and asserted that investigators believed he had continued to lead an extremist community from the penal facility. This description aligns with a broader political narrative in which the opposition figure is depicted as directing operations from confinement, a claim that remains a focal point of the ongoing legal and political debate surrounding Navalny’s activities and the state’s approach to dissent in Russia.