Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny convicted of extremism and sentenced to 19 years in prison

Alexei Navalny is already serving a nine-year term on a variety of charges. Credit: AP

A Russian court has convicted imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny of extremism changes and sentenced him to 19 years in prison.

Mr Navalny is already serving a nine-year term on a variety of charges that he says were politically motivated.

The new charges against the politician relate to the activities of his anti-corruption foundation and statements by his top associates.

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Navalny surrounded by journalists on a plane before a flight to Moscow from Berlin in 2021. Credit: AP

Britain has demanded Russia release Mr Navalny on Friday.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Moscow’s “abuse” of the opposition leader shows a “complete disregard for even the most basic of human rights”.

Posting on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, Mr Cleverly wrote: “Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to an additional 19 years in a Russian prison.

“His abuse shows Russia’s complete disregard for even the most basic of human rights.

“Dissent cannot be silenced. The UK calls for his immediate release.”

In 2021, Russian authorities outlawed the foundation and the vast network of Mr Navalny’s offices in Russian regions, calling them extremist organisations and exposing anyone involved to possible prosecution.

His allies say the charges retroactively criminalise all the foundation’s activities since its creation in 2011.

The 47-year-old is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe and has a history of exposing official corruption and organising major anti-Kremlin protests.

Mr Navalny was arrested in January 2021 upon returning to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning.

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He blamed that poisoning on the Kremlin, which has always denied involvement.

The authorities previously sentenced him to two and a half years in prison for parole violations and then to another nine years on charges of fraud and contempt of court.

It was not immediately clear if he will serve the new sentence concurrently with those.

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