The Basmanny District Court of Moscow arrested the lawyer of politician Alexei Navalny, Olga Mikhailova, in absentia. Mediazona reports this.
During today's meeting, the investigator stated that “there are sufficient grounds to believe that Mikhailova is a member of the extremist community and is abroad, from where she continues her criminal activities.” In his opinion, she could influence the investigation by deleting documents.
Mikhailova’s lawyer pointed out that materials that were related to Mikhailova’s work as Navalny’s lawyer cannot be used as evidence, since this information is confidential and her actions did not go beyond the scope of her professional duties.
The lawyer herself is not in Russia. On January 16, Mikhailova was charged in absentia with the case of participation in an extremist community (Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code), then she was put on the wanted list.
Another Navalny lawyer, Alexander Fedulov, was also put on the wanted list. In October 2023, he announced his departure from Russia.
18:10 Alexandra Fedulova was also arrested in absentia by the Basmanny Court, Mediazona reports .
- On the morning of October 13, 2023, Navalny’s lawyers Igor Sergunin, Vadim Kobzev and Alexey Liptser were searched, after which they were detained. On the same day, they were sent to a pre-trial detention center on charges of participation in an extremist community (Part 2 of Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code). According to the security forces, the men, “using their status” as lawyers to gain access to the colony, “provided regular transfer of information between leaders, participants of the extremist community and A.A. Navalny, who thereby continued to carry out the functions of the leader and director of the extremist community.” Another Navalny lawyer, Alexander Fedulov, said on October 16 that he left Russia due to the “need for adjustments” in the further protection of the politician.
- On June 9, 2021, the Moscow City Court recognized the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens' Rights (FZPG) and the headquarters of Alexei Navalny as extremist organizations. An appeals court later upheld this decision. After this, supporters of the opposition politician began to leave Russia en masse.