VLADIMIR Putin's leading political foe has been jailed for another 19 years – his third and longest prison term.
Defiant Alexei Navalny, 47, may now remain incarcerated until he is 71, as the Kremlin dictator reaches the age of 95.
The anti-war opposition leader – already serving an 11 year sentence for fraud, contempt of court and a parole violation, seen around the world as politically motivated – predicted yesterday that he would be handed down a term of 18 years.
The new charges against the politician relate to the activities of Navalny's anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates.
In 2021, Russian authorities outlawed the foundation and the vast network of Navalny's offices in Russian regions as extremist organizations, exposing anyone involved to possible prosecution.
One of Navalny's associates, Daniel Kholodny, is standing trial alongside him after being relocated from a different prison. The prosecution has asked to sentence Kholodny to 10 years in prison.
Read more world news
Putin foe Alexei Navalny says he’s facing life locked up in hellish gulag
Watch the incredible moment Ukrainian kamikaze drone blows up Russian warship
Navalny has rejected all the charges against him as politically motivated and accused the Kremlin of seeking to keep him behind bars for life.
On the eve of the verdict hearing, Navalny released a statement on social media, presumably through his team, in which he said he expected his latest sentence to be huge a Stalinist term, referring to the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
In the statement, he called on Russians to personally resist and encouraged them to support political prisoners, distribute flyers or go to a rally.
Navalny told Russians that they could choose a safe way to resist, but he added that there is shame in doing nothing and be intimidated.
Most read in The Sun
Stacey Dooley devastated as star of her Sleeps Over series dies at just 29
British comedy legend rushed to hospital after freak accident 'almost kills him'
Harry & Meghan SNUBBED from royal gathering to mark 1 year since Queen's death
Mum dies from 'water poisoning' after drinking four bottles in 20 minutes
"My number one request – when the [sentence] is heard, please do not show solidarity with me with lamentations and exclamations [that it is] ‘like under Stalin’," he said.
"Better show solidarity with me and other political prisoners by thinking for a minute.
"Think about why such an exponentially huge period is needed.
"Its main purpose is to intimidate. You, not me.”
He told followers: “Putin should not achieve his goal.”
“There is no shame in choosing the safest way to counter, but it's embarrassing to do nothing,” he said.
The politician is currently serving his sentence in a maximum-security prison Penal Colony No. 6 in the town of Melekhovo, more than 140 miles east of Moscow.
He has spent months in a tiny one-person cell, also called a punishment cell, for purported disciplinary violations, such as an alleged failure to properly button his prison clothes, appropriately introduce himself to a guard or to wash his face at a specified time.
In April, Navalny suffered mystery stomach aches and "seizures" amid fears he is being slowly poisoned to death after he lost 18lbs in just days.
On social media, Navalny's associates have urged supporters to come to Melekhovo on Friday to express solidarity with the politician.
About 40 supporters from different Russian cities gathered outside the colony in Melekhovo on Friday, one of them told The Associated Press in the messaging app Telegram.
Yelena, who spoke on condition that her last name is withheld for safety reasons, said the supporters weren't allowed into the colony, but decided to stay outside until the verdict as announced.
"People think it's important to be nearby at least like that, for moral support. We will be waiting," she said.
The prosecution has asked the court, if it convicts Navalny, to order the politician to serve any new prison term in a special regime penal colony, a term that refers to the Russian prisons with the highest level of security and the harshest inmate restrictions.
Russian law stipulates that only men given life sentences or especially dangerous recidivists" are sent to those types of prisons.
Read More on The Sun
Asda makes a major change to stores with new shopping range
I was a single mum on benefits – I now own a giant home & earn £100k
The country has many fewer special regime colonies compared to other types of adult prisons, according to state penitentiary service data: 35 colonies for dangerous recidivists and six for men imprisoned for life.
Maximum-security colonies are the most widespread type, with 251 currently in operation.
Source: Read Full Article