TOP HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER LEAVES COUNTRY

A prominent Russian human rights lawyer who defended jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's foundation and worked on many high-profile cases said on Tuesday that he had left Russia due to a criminal inquiry against him.

Ivan Pavlov, pictured, is well known inside Russia for taking on politically sensitive cases and defending people accused of everything from treason to espionage.

Russia opened a criminal case against him in April, accusing him of disclosing classified information relating to an ongoing treason investigation against former journalist Ivan Safronov, one of his clients.

“The restrictions imposed on me in connection with the criminal case have gradually made my work impossible,” Pavlov wrote on Telegram messenger. “The restrictions didn't touch upon one thing: my ability to leave the country. This was a sign pointing to the exit.”

Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, did not respond to a request for comment.