18-1-2025 (MOSCOW) 3 Russian lawyers who represented the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny were handed prison sentences today at a closed-door trial in Petushki, marking what legal experts describe as an unprecedented move against defence attorneys in modern Russia.
The Moscow court found Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser, and Igor Sergunin guilty of involvement in what authorities termed an “extremist organisation”. Kobzev received the harshest sentence of five and a half years, whilst Liptser and Sergunin were sentenced to five years and three and a half years, respectively.
The trio stood accused of relaying messages from Navalny to the outside world during their prison visits – a practice that has historically been standard procedure in Russian penal institutions. These communications, which were subsequently shared on social media platforms, included Navalny’s criticisms of the Ukraine conflict and messages of resilience to his supporters.
According to court documents, the lawyers were found to have “exploited their legal status” during visits to Navalny, facilitating what the court described as the planning of “extremist activities” from within the maximum-security facility.
The sentencing has triggered swift diplomatic responses from Western nations. The British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, called for the immediate release of all political prisoners, whilst the US State Department condemned the verdicts as part of a broader campaign to undermine legal representation and civil rights in Russia.
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the deceased opposition leader, branded the convicted lawyers as “political prisoners” and demanded their immediate release. This development follows her recent disclosure that Russian authorities continue to maintain her late husband’s name on their list of terrorists and extremists, despite his death in February at an Arctic prison colony.
Legal observers note that this case represents a significant escalation in the authorities’ approach to defence lawyers. The OVD rights monitoring group warned that the verdicts effectively criminalise the defence of politically persecuted individuals, potentially dealing a fatal blow to what remains of legal advocacy for opposition figures in Russia.
Speaking before the verdict, Kobzev drew parallels between the current proceedings and Stalin-era repression, telling the court, “Eighty years have passed… and in the Petushki court, people are once again on trial for discrediting officials and state agencies”.
The case has sparked particular concern within the legal community, as it potentially sets a precedent for the prosecution of defence lawyers simply for carrying out their professional duties. This development comes amid what observers describe as an intensifying crackdown on dissent in Russia, particularly since the commencement of military operations in Ukraine.
France’s foreign ministry characterised the ruling as “an act of intimidation against the legal profession as a whole”, whilst German officials expressed alarm at the persecution of legal defenders. The international response suggests growing concern about the erosion of legal protections in Russia and the implications for civil society.
