Status: 11.08.2021 5:02 p.m.
Kremlin critic Navalny is already sitting in the prison camp. But the Russian judiciary continues to take action against him. Now he faces another punishment for his fight against corruption.
A new charge has been brought against the imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny in Russia, which could significantly extend his prison term. Navalny is accused of founding an illegal organization, said the investigation committee responsible for serious crimes.
Navalny faces three years in prison if convicted of the new allegations. Specifically, it is about Nawalny’s anti-corruption foundation FBK, which has since been classified as “extremist” and banned in Russia. Navalny is now accused of having “violated the rights of citizens” with the organization, because the foundation incited the Russians to “unlawful acts”, in particular through “calls to participate in unauthorized meetings”.
FBK videos: The mighty in view
Navalny had already reported in May that investigations had been started against him as a result. FBK was founded ten years ago and has since posted several videos about the hidden assets of Russian officials.
In this way, the foundation has repeatedly attracted attention in recent years. They allocated assets to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, some of which are said to have been a gift from one of Russia’s richest oligarchs. 32 million people watched the video about Medvedev on YouTube. Most recently, FBK caused a sensation with a documentary about alleged luxury possessions of President Vladimir Putin.
Navalny survived an attack in Russia last August with a neurotoxin from the Novichok group, for which he blames the Kremlin. After his treatment at the Berlin Charité, he was arrested in Russia on his return in January and later sentenced to more than two and a half years in a camp for alleged violations of probation conditions.
The Russian opposition is accusing the leadership in Moscow of conducting a massive campaign of intimidation against critics of the government ahead of the parliamentary elections in September. The Kremlin denies this.