Moscow expels an Italian diplomat

The Russian judiciary orders the "Navalny" organization to suspend its activities

Supporters of Navalny demonstrate in front of the Russian Embassy in London.

EPA

The Russian judiciary has ordered the suspension of the activities of the imprisoned Alexei Navalny, the exhibition organization, which threatens to be classified as "extremist" and banned, while Moscow expelled an Italian diplomat in response to a similar measure.

The measure taken against the organization, yesterday, precedes a trial targeting it on the charge of "extremism", and the court held a closed initial session in this case on the same day.

The Moscow City Court told «AFP» that the next session is expected the day after tomorrow.

A lawyer close to the opposition, Vladimir Voronin, explained that the prosecution had suspended the activities of Navalny's local offices.

Germany, which, like other Western countries, is calling for Navalny's release, condemned what it described as a "decision contrary to the principles of the rule of law."

Navalny’s Moscow office indicated on his Telegram channel that “he is no longer able to work in the old format,” because of this decision.

"This matter is very dangerous for our employees and supporters," he said.

In mid-April, the Russian prosecution requested that the organization associated with Alexei Navalny be classified as "extremist", which would prevent its activities in Russia and subject its workers and opposition supporters to harsh prison sentences.

The prosecution accuses the organization of seeking "to create conditions to destabilize the socio-political situation in Russia under the cover of liberal slogans."

The prosecution affirmed that the real goals of its activities are to create conditions to change the foundations of the constitutional order, including by using the so-called "color revolution" scenario, in reference to the unrest that erupted in former Soviet republics.

Navalny, 44, and the most prominent opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, ended a 24-day hunger strike last Friday to protest his poor detention conditions in Pokrov detention center.

In addition, Russia announced that a member of the Italian military attaché had a persona non grata, about a month after Italy had expelled two Russian diplomats on the background of suspicion of espionage.

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