Jailed Kremlin Critic Navalny Says Facing New Criminal Probes
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published May 25, 2021 | 05:20 PM
Moscow, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th May, 2021 ) :Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said Tuesday that Russian authorities had launched three new criminal probes against him in a move his allies fear could keep him behind bars for many more years.
President Vladimir Putin's leading opponent at home is serving two-and-a-half years in a penal colony outside Moscow on old fraud charges he says are politically motivated.
"My influential criminal syndicate is growing," Navalny quipped in a new post on Instagram.
"I am a genius and a puppet master of the criminal underworld," the 44-year-old said.
Citing investigators, he said the three new probes were all of "high priority" and had more than 20 investigators working on them.
The launch of new probes against him could lead to more prison time for Navalny, his allies said.
"Putin has decided to keep Navalny in prison for life," aide Maria Pevchikh tweeted. "It's more convenient for him that way." Citing a senior representative of Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes, Navalny said he was accused of insulting judge Vera Akimova.
Akimova presided over the defamation case that saw the opposition politician convicted of insulting a World War II veteran in February.
During the hearings, Navalny mocked Akimova and she threatened to remove Navalny from the courtroom.
Navalny said the second case related to allegations he had stolen donations to his Anti-Corruption Foundation.
- Intensifying crackdown - The Investigative Committee said in late December it had gathered evidence sufficient to open a fraud case against Navalny, accusing him of personally spending more than 356 million rubles ($4.
8 million) in donations.
Navalny said he was also accused of creating a non-commercial organisation, and encouraging Russians not to perform "their civic duties", charges he said were related to his publication of an investigation into Putin's alleged wealth.
In January, Navalny released a probe into a Black Sea palace that Russian tycoons allegedly built for Putin. The video has racked up more than 116 million views on YouTube. Putin denies the palace is his.
Navalny was arrested in January upon returning from Germany after recovering from a nerve agent poisoning attack he says was orchestrated by the Kremlin, which denies the allegation.
Navalny announced the new charges against him as pressure was building on the opposition ahead of parliamentary elections in September.
Next month a court will hear whether to add Navalny's network of regional offices and his Anti-Corruption Foundation to a list of "terrorist and extremist" organisations.
Navalny's network has disbanded to shield its members and supporters from possible prosecution. Most of his top allies have since been placed under house arrest or left the country.
In another move targeting his supporters, Russia's lower house of parliament this month approved legislation in a first reading that would ban members of "extremist" organisations from becoming lawmakers.
On Tuesday, lawmakers approved the bill in a key second reading.
Ahead of the key court hearing next month, Russia's financial monitoring service Rosfinmonitoring added Navalny's political network to its database of terrorist and extremist organisations.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Law Minister expresses Govt's resolve to address issue of missing persons
Rizwan’s batting order may be changed: Sources
Nawaz Sharif to visit Guangzhou exhibition in China
FM Dar not traveling to China: Foreign Office
PM takes notice of deliberate delay in tax cases
Iranian President visits Allama Iqbal’s mausoleum
Iranian President arrives in Lahore today
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 23 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 23 April 2024
Islam enlightened world with its teachings about knowledge: Dr Jamileh
Record London close as oil prices drop on easing Middle East fears
TV tower in Kharkiv struck as Russia captured village
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
1 day ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
2 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
2 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
2 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
2 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
4 days ago
-
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
8 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
9 days ago -
Besant Hall Cultural Centre to celebrate evening with Sanam Marvi on 26 April
9 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur presents program “Eidi Shidi”
12 days ago -
Radio Bahawalpur to broadcast Eid programs
14 days ago -
DC, DPO Haripur inspect bus terminals to review fares compliance
16 days ago