Judge Restricts Freedom of Ally Navalny Because of Corona Rules

A Russian court has banned the freedom of movement of a key ally of opposition leader Alexei Navalny for a year and a half. Lawyer Lyubov Sobol cannot attend mass rallies and not leave her home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

According to her lawyer, she must also stay in Moscow and report to the police three times a month.

The court ruled that 33-year-old Sobol had incited people to break the rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. She had called for protests. Sobol announced via social media that she had been removed from the courtroom because she filmed the judge delivering the verdict.

Other opposition figures speak shame of the conviction. “Restricting freedom of movement for a year and a half because of a fictitious case with no victims,” concluded Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysj, who is herself under house arrest.

Her boss Navalny ended up in a Russian penal camp after returning from Germany early this year, where he had undergone treatment after being poisoned in his home country.

The opposition says authorities are increasing pressure ahead of September’s parliamentary elections and are trying to intimidate critical politicians. Navalny’s network has been labelled extremist and is therefore effectively banned. The Kremlin denies that it is trying to sideline the opposition.