Moscow judge ‘limits’ what Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation can legally do, pending extremism ruling

Ahead of a ruling in the extremism case brought by prosecutors against Alexey Navalny’s anti-corruption organizations, the Moscow City Court has approved preliminary restrictions on what these civic groups can do.

Spokespeople for the court told Meduza that the Anti-Corruption Foundation and the Citizens’ Rights Protection Foundation (both already designated as “foreign agents” in Russia) are now barred from certain activities that remain undisclosed due to the classified nature of the extremism case itself. The court’s representatives clarified that these preliminary restrictions do not suspend the organizations’ activities completely.

Anti-Corruption Foundation Director Ivan Zhdanov told MBK Media that these preliminary measures are in fact intended to cripple his group’s operations. He says the foundation has no plans to comply with the new restrictions. “They’re even worded illiterately,” said Zhdanov.

A day earlier, on April 26, Moscow prosecutors ordered the suspension of all activities by Navalny’s nationwide campaign offices, pending a decision in the extremism case.

• On April 16, prosecutors in Moscow filed a lawsuit asking the city to add organizations affiliated with Alexey Navalny to Russia’s list of illegal extremist groups. On April 26, Moscow’s City Court began reviewing the case, which has been classified and hidden from the public because the trial evidence apparently includes state secrets.