News
The press service of the Moscow City Court has refused to comment on the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's verdict in the recent “extremism” trial, meaning the particulars of the sentence, handed down on August 4, are still unknown. The court’s press service claims it was left it was left in the dark, with no information provided to them.
“Ladies and gentlemen, there will be no comments from the representative of the State Prosecution today. That’s it for today, most likely — there’s no point in waiting. Follow this chat, our website and Telegram channel to get official information on Navalny's sentence. So far, to date, we have no further comments,” Vadim Polezhaev, the Moscow City Court’s deputy officer in charge of media and public relations, told reporters following the August 4 hearing.
According to the verdict, Alexei Navalny was given 19 years in a special regime colony. However, it is still unknown what total term he will serve, taking into account his previous sentences. He was previously sentenced to nine years for fraud and contempt of court in 2022 and received a suspended sentence for the “embezzlement” of 55 million roubles ($574,500 as of August 4, 2023) from LLC “Yves Rocher Vostok.”
Following the verdict, Navalny himself commented on the sentence, with a post being released via his official social media accounts:
“19 years in a maximum security penal colony. The number of years does not matter. I perfectly understand that, like many political prisoners, I am sitting on a life sentence. Where life is measured by the term of my life or the term of life of this regime.
The sentencing figure is not for me. It is for you. You, not me, are being frightened and deprived of the will to resist. You are being forced to surrender your country of Russia without a fight to the gang of traitors, thieves, and scoundrels who have seized power. Putin must not achieve his goal. Do not lose the will to resist.”