A Russian court has outlawed opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s nationwide political organisation on the grounds it is “extremist”, in a landmark step for Vladimir Putin’s crackdown on political dissent. “The Anti-Corruption Foundation has been recognised by a court decision as an extremist organisation,” the group first reported the verdict on Twitter. It could also target financial donors and even journalists that mention Navalny’s organisations in the media. “It’s gone beyond criticism of the government,” a prosecutor said in the closed court hearing according to a partial transcript published by Pavlov. He appeared by video at a court hearing on Tuesday after being returned to his prison colony following a 24-day hunger strike.

Source: The Guardian June 09, 2021 15:20 UTC