Russia sentences Navalny lawyers to years     behind bars

The three lawyers who used to represent the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny: Igor Sergunin, Alexei             Liptser and Vadim Kobzev (L-R in the defendants' cage), accused of participating in an "extremist"                       organisation, attend their verdicts reading in the town of Petushki in the Vladimir region on 17 January, 2025

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexei Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

The case, which comes amid a widespread crackdown on dissent during the Ukraine offensive, has alarmed rights groups that fear Moscow will ramp up trials against legal representatives in addition to jailing their clients.

The Kremlin has sought to punish Navalny's associates even after his unexplained death in an Arctic prison colony last February.

Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin were found guilty of participating in an "extremist organisation" by a court in the town of Petushki.