‘Extremism’ inquiry into jailed Kremlin critic Navalny could add 10 years to sentence

RUSSIAN officials launched an “extremism” investigation against the jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and his main allies yesterday that could add 10 years to his time in prison.

The inquiry comes after the opposition leader’s groups were banned in June and Vladimir Putin’s party this month shored up another five years in control of the lower house of parliament.

The investigative committee, which examines major crimes in Russia, said that by 2014 Mr Navalny had “created an extremist network and directed it” with the aim of “changing the foundations of the constitutional system in the Russian Federation”.

Mr Navalny, 45, and key allies Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov are suspected of having run an “extremist network”, while Lyubov Sobol and other associates are accused of taking part.

Investigators accused Mr Navalny and his allies of setting up social media accounts and the website of Mr Navalny’s banned Anti-corruption Foundation (FBK) “to promote criminal activity”.

“The illegal activities of the extremist network were aimed at discrediting state authorities and their policies,” investigators said.

The activities were also aimed at “destabilising the situation in the regions”, they added, and “shaping public opinion about the need for a violent change of power”.

Investigators said calls for “extremist and terrorist activities” were common at regular street protests organised by Mr Navalny and his associates.

If convicted, Mr Navalny, Mr Volkov and Mr Zhdanov could face six to 10 years in prison, while Ms Sobol and the other activists risk two to six years behind bars.

Mr Navalny, Putin’s most vocal domestic critic, was detained in January and sentenced to 2.5 years in a penal colony the following month.

In recent months, the opposition leader and his allies have become targets of numerous probes that they and their supporters describe as the Kremlin’s revenge for challenging Mr Putin’s two-decade-long rule.

Most of his key allies including Mr Volkov and Mr Zhdanov have fled the country.

The latest probe comes after Mr Putin’s United Russia party won a sweeping majority in the lower house State Duma earlier this month.