Russian opposition leader refers to Russian pro-war nationalist and Putin critic Igor Girkin as "political prisoner"
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, imprisoned by the Russian authorities, has claimed that the arrest of Igor Girkin, a former FSB officer and leader of the Russian-backed "Donetsk People's Republic" terrorists, also known by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, is illegal, adding that Strelkov is a political prisoner.
Source: Alexei Navalny on Telegram
Quote: "Igor Strelkov has been arrested illegally. He is a political prisoner for as long as he remains in custody on this ridiculous and obviously politically motivated charge.
Earlier, Strelkov was found guilty by a Dutch court in a process that, in my opinion, complies with the principle of judicial independence. Anyway, Russia must investigate the killing of the 298 Boeing airliner passengers, and all those responsible must be brought to justice. Strelkov himself does not deny his participation in the hostilities in Ukraine in an unspecified status. All of this should also be investigated and fairly assessed by the court.
But now Strelkov has been arrested not on charges of committing an actual crime but on a fictitious and fabricated case of extremism. Simply put, for criticising the authorities. Specifically, Shoigu [Russia's Defence Minister] and Putin."
Details: Navalny alleged that "Strelkov has become a victim of his own power" and that one should not gloat over this, as it "means publicly supporting lawlessness".
Previously: On 21 July, the Russian Meshchansky Court ordered the arrest of Igor Strelkov (real name Girkin), a terrorist and critic of the Russian authorities, until 18 September on "calls for extremism".
As of 23 July, Strelkov (Girkin) was being held in a two-bed cell in the Lefortovo Detention Centre in Moscow. He has a TV and a fridge and has even used the library.
Background:
- Navalny is being held in penal colony No 6 in Russia's Vladimir Oblast. He was sentenced to nine years in prison last March in a fraud and contempt of court case.
- The case on organising and financing an extremist organisation was initiated in October 2022. Navalny was accused of propaganda, terrorism, and calls for it.
- On 26 April, a Moscow court began a hearing to limit the time allocated to the politician to read the 196 volumes of the criminal case on extremism against him. The judge closed the proceedings. Media reported that the opposition leader's associates said that Navalny had been given one day to review the 700 pages of materials.
- In April 2023, Navalny said that a new case against him had been split off from the extremism case under the article on terrorism. He said he could face life imprisonment.
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