He may be imprisoned for years even though his supporters have protested against his arrest
Alexei Navalny is brought before the courts ... and a prison sentence is looming
Navalny speaks to one of his lawyers during his statement hearing.
Father
Two policemen arrest one of the demonstrators.
Father
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The Russian opposition, Alexei Navalny, appeared yesterday in court on charges of violating the conditions of judicial control imposed on him in a case dating back to 2014, a session that may lead to his imprisonment for years, despite the determination of his supporters who organize demonstrations to refuse to arrest him.
After two days of protests across Russia, which resulted in a record number of arrests, Navalny’s supporters called again to rally, yesterday, in front of the Moscow court to decide the fate of the opponent.
Minutes before the session began, journalists from Agence France-Presse saw the police arrest several people.
The non-governmental organization Ovid-Info said that at least 24 people had been arrested.
All evidence points to Alexei Navalny's imprisonment.
Yesterday, the Russian Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed Navalny’s prison, considering the Russian prison authorities ’request to detain him“ legally and justified ”.
Alexei Navalny, an anti-corruption activist and prominent Kremlin opponent, was imprisoned upon his return to Russia on January 17, after a months-long convalescence in Germany, following an alleged poisoning, President Vladimir Putin was accused of being behind it.
The reason for the arrest, according to the authorities, is the violation of the terms of a suspended prison sentence of three and a half years, which may turn into a prison sentence with enforcement at the request of the prison authorities.
After Navalny served part of his house arrest sentence, he faced the possibility of being held for two and a half years.
The 44-year-old opposition also faces legal prosecutions before his poisoning and during his stay in Germany. He will be tried on Friday for “defaming” a former combatant, a charge that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
He also faces charges in a corruption investigation, a crime that carries a 10-year prison sentence.
Mess
Since his return, the Russian judiciary has stepped up proceedings against Alexei Navalny and his political allies, and they have placed nearly all of them under house arrest, imprisoned, or tried, in recent weeks.
Some of them face imprisonment for violating the "health standards" in effect in the face of the emerging corona virus, by organizing demonstrations, while others face charges of inciting minors to participate in prohibited gatherings.
But the opposition managed to rally his supporters, during the end of two consecutive weeks, in massive demonstrations, especially in the Russian regions that were more marginalized than Moscow or St. Petersburg.
This time, more than 100 cities took part in the protests.
But the police response was strong: On Sunday, more than 5,400 arrests were recorded across the country, a record in recent Russian history, according to the non-governmental organization Avid-Info.
In rare scenes, the city center of Moscow was cordoned off by the security forces, who prevented the demonstrators from approaching Lubyanka Square, the headquarters of the Russian intelligence services, and the first gathering point.
The protests flared up after the publication of a video investigation by the opposition, accusing President Vladimir Putin of owning a luxurious "palace" on the shore of the Black Sea, an investigation that was viewed more than 100 million times on YouTube.
"This is the beginning of a long process," political researcher Konstantin Kalachev told AFP.
For those in power, it would be very dangerous if the demonstrations were suppressed, ”indicating that 2021 is the year of elections in Russia, as legislative elections are scheduled for the fall.
He added, "This feeling may turn into a protest vote, as fear is behind the authorities' actions."
The siege of demonstrations is the beginning of a long process. And for those in power, it would be very dangerous if the marches were suppressed.
Since his return, the Russian judiciary has stepped up proceedings against Alexei Navalny and his political allies, and they have placed almost all of them under house arrest, imprisoned, or tried, in recent weeks.
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