In Russia, Navalny’s attorneys are being tried: Three attorneys behind bars and listed as ‘terrorists’, two more managed to leave but are arrested in absentia

The Petushinsky Court in the Vladimir Region of Russia has begun hearing the case against former attorneys of Alexei Navalny — Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin. All three are accused under the article on participation in the "extremist" Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) (Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). All three lawyers have been included in Rosfinmonitoring's list of extremists and terrorists. Two more attorneys are involved in the case — Alexandra Fedulova and Olga Mikhailova. They managed to leave Russia, so the courts have arrested them in absentia.

In a move reminiscent of the worst practices of Belarusian courts, Judge Shilova decided to close the trial to observers and journalists due to a letter from the "E" Center (Center for Combating Extremism) about possible provocations by the FBK. At the beginning of the session, Andrey Katkov, head of the department of state prosecutors of the regional prosecutor's office, read a letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs' Center for Combating Extremism and filed a motion to close the trial to "ensure the safety of participants". Attorney Andrey Borisov, representing Alexei Liptser, objected to the motion, noting that the letter contained no specific information — it was more of an assumption or prediction. He believes that the prosecution aims to hide the trial from journalists.

The attorneys have been in pre-trial detention since October 13, 2023. According to the investigation, they "used their status" to transmit Navalny's letters from the penal colony to his associates. Investigators believe that this allowed Alexei Navalny "to continue performing the functions of the leader and head of an extremist community."

In 2021, the Moscow City Court declared the FBK, created by Alexei Navalny, an extremist organization.

The trial is taking place in Petushinsky Court because in 2022–2023, Alexei Navalny was held in a colony in the Petushincky district. The defense requested to transfer the case to Moscow, pointing out that moving the accused to Petushki complicates their meetings with relatives and the receipt of parcels.

In August 2023, the Moscow City Court sentenced opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 19 years in a special-regime colony on charges of creating an extremist community and several other accusations.