Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin’s government, has been dealt another blow as he was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison. This latest sentence comes on top of the more than 11 years he is already serving for charges of fraud and other disputed crimes. Navalny’s supporters have vehemently condemned the new charges, viewing them as fabricated attempts to keep him away from politics and public life for an even longer period.
The 47-year-old’s political movement has been banned and labeled “extremist” by the Russian authorities. The state prosecutors had sought to extend Navalny’s imprisonment by two decades on six separate criminal charges, including inciting and financing extremist activities, as well as being accused of creating an extremist organization. These charges are related to his role in his now-defunct movement within Russia, which the government alleges sought to destabilize the country and trigger a revolution.
In a statement posted on social media through his lawyers and aides, Navalny expressed that the outcome of the case doesn’t matter as he is also under the threat of terrorism charges that could result in decades of imprisonment. Despite facing a lengthy sentence, Navalny continues to stand up to the Kremlin and urge fellow Russians not to be intimidated by the government’s tactics. He implores them to resist the “villains and thieves in the Kremlin” and to think deeply about how to bring about change and fight for a “new, free, rich country.”
Navalny’s sentencing is widely seen as a calculated move by the Russian government to silence its most vocal critic, who has persistently exposed official corruption and organized massive protests. The move has drawn international condemnation, with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly of the United Kingdom condemning the Russian court’s decision and calling for Navalny’s immediate release. The sentencing has also been met with defiance from Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, which sees it as an attempt to intimidate all of Navalny’s supporters and vows to continue the fight for his freedom and against Putin’s regime.