A Russian court has convicted three former lawyers of Alexey Navalny, finding them guilty of aiding the opposition leader in directing an extremist group from prison.
Three former lawyers of the late Russian opposition figure Alexey Navalny—Vadim Kobzev, Aleksey Liptser, and Igor Sergunin—received prison sentences ranging from three to five and a half years for their involvement in an extremist organization. The judge delivered the verdict on Friday, sentencing Kobzev to five and a half years in a strict-regime penal colony, Liptser to five years, and Sergunin to three. All three are also barred from practicing law for three years.
The trial, held behind closed doors in a Vladimir Region court since September, saw Kobzev and Liptser plead not guilty, while Sergunin admitted guilt.
Prosecutors alleged that the lawyers facilitated Navalny’s continued leadership of his organization while he was incarcerated in a Vladimir Region penal colony from 2021 to 2023, before his transfer to a facility in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region. They claimed the lawyers, members of Navalny’s alleged “extremist community,” used meetings with him to relay messages between Navalny and associates from the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).
The defense plans to appeal the verdict after consulting with their clients.
Arrest warrants have also been issued for two additional Navalny lawyers, Olga Mikhailova and Aleksandr Fedolov, who are also wanted for alleged participation in the extremist group.
Navalny, serving a lengthy sentence for previous fraud and extremist activity charges, died in prison in February 2024. Prison officials stated the 47-year-old experienced a sudden illness after a walk and subsequently died despite resuscitation attempts. Navalny’s widow received a letter from Russia’s Investigative Committee stating that his death was not criminal, attributing it to health issues exacerbated by chronic diseases.