Autocratic states repeatedly accuse members of the opposition of terrorist financing and money laundering – with sometimes serious consequences. The free world can do something about it, but it is sloppy even when it comes to combating money laundering.
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Markus Zydra, Frankfurt
In the fight against members of the opposition, Russia pays little heed to the rule of law. This was shown by the recent trial of the Russian regime critic Alexej Navalny. The provisional courtroom was in the penal colony, where the country’s best-known opposition leader has been imprisoned for a long time. Navalny had to wear prisoner’s clothing during the trial. The judge was not on site, but connected via video when she pronounced the verdict: another nine years in prison. Navalny, according to the reasoning, is a financial criminal.