Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny faces a retrial on charges of extremism next week, Russian news agency TASS reported on Friday, citing dpa.
TASS quotes the Moscow City Court as saying that the preliminary hearing in the new case will begin before noon on Wednesday. As indicated, the meeting will be closed to the public. Navalny himself says his prison term could be extended by 30 years.
The opposition figure would face seven charges, including founding and funding an extremist organization and participating in its activities, inciting extremism and belittling Nazism. Two years ago, the Moscow City Court recognized the Navalny Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) as an extremist organization.
A. Navalny has been imprisoned in harsh conditions for more than two years in a notorious settlement about 260 km northeast of Moscow. He was found guilty of alleged fraud. Abroad, a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin is considered a political prisoner.
Source: The Delfi
