New accusation against Navalny’s Russian opponent began to be evaluated behind closed doors

Russian justice has begun to appreciate a new case brought against an opponent of Alexei Navalny for extremism, but behind closed doors and in prison, where he is serving an eight-year sentence.

Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmish, wrote on Twitter that the preliminary hearing was held at Vladimir Prison, 180 kilometers east of Moscow, but the judge “did not allow journalists” or others to attend.

“This was done because there is no evidence in the case,” he added.

Yarmisch later announced that the first official court hearing was scheduled for June 19, also in prison, and that in principle it would be open to the public.

This new trial could end with a new sentence for Navalny, this time to another 30 years in prison.

The Russian opponent claimed that the colony’s guards did not allow him to get acquainted with the prosecution materials, since only one book was allowed in his cell.

According to the Mediazona portal, Navalny is accused of financing and inciting extremist actions and creating an organization, referring to the illegal Anti-Corruption Fund, which violated the rights of citizens.

The list of accusations also includes the involvement of minors in dangerous actions in connection with participation in unauthorized opposition rallies.

Navalny denounced on social media the “criminal war” unleashed in Ukraine by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he accused of sending hundreds of thousands of Russians to “slaughter”.

Staff at Navalny, who turned 47 on Sunday, mentioned he has been in detention for 856 days, of which he spent 165 days in isolation, and accused prison officials of trying to poison him.