Russian opponent Alexei Navalny appeared in public Thursday for the first time since his hunger strike, weakened and very thin.

He was appearing before the Babuskinsky court in Moscow, by videoconference from the prison where he is incarcerated, for the appeal of his conviction for "defamation" of a veteran.

The opponent would face new charges according to his supporters.

The support organization for Alexeï Navalny, awaiting trial for "extremism", announced the same day the dismantling of its network of regional offices across Russia.

During his hearing, Alexeï Navalny, appeared with a shaved head, emaciated and showing signs of physical exhaustion, according to a journalist from Reuters.

The opponent has reportedly lost 22 kilograms since his hunger strike, according to one of his lawyers, who claims he weighed 72 kilograms on Thursday, compared to 94 kilograms when he returned to Russia in January.

The main opponent of Vladimir Putin, imprisoned since his return to Russia, is serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence.

He had started a hunger strike on March 31 to denounce his treatment in detention and in particular the fact that he was not being treated for severe pain in his legs and back.

After a little more than 3 weeks of hunger strike, Navalny announced on April 23 his intention to gradually refuel.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on television screens during a hearing Thursday, April 29, 2021, at the Babuskinsky court in Moscow, Russia.

© Babuskinsky District Court Press Service, AP

Judgment for "extremism"

Supporters of Alexei Navalny said on Thursday that the opponent also faces new proceedings for allegedly violating citizens' rights by setting up an organization, according to Russian authorities.

The support organization for Alexey Navalny, also announced in a YouTube video, the dismantling of the network of its regional offices across the country.

The announcement comes ahead of a hearing before a Moscow court, scheduled for May 17, which is to examine a petition from the Moscow Prosecutor's Office against the activities of dozens of the opponent's offices, threatened with being declared "extremists" and banned from the public. as well as terrorist groups.

Russian justice had already banned the Opponent's Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) on Tuesday from practically any activity, such as posting content on the internet, organizing demonstrations and participating in elections.

A court ruling recognizing that organizations supporting Alexey Navalny are "extremist" movements would give the authorities the legal power to impose prison sentences on their activists and freeze the bank accounts of these groups.

With Reuters

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