Navalny's lawyer Mikhailova charged with affiliation to extremist network

MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The Russian Investigative Committee has charged another lawyer of Alexei Navalny, Olga Mikhailova, in absentia with affiliation to an extremist network.

"I have been charged with affiliation to Navalny's extremist network," Mikhailova told Interfax.

She said she had always performed only legal duties as Navalny's lawyer and represented his interests at various institutions.

Mikhailova is staying outside Russia and not planning to return for now, as she believes she "will be more useful free than incarcerated."

Three lawyers of Navalny - Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin - were arrested in October 2023 in the extremist network case.

All of them were charged with affiliation to an extremist network, which is punishable with a fine of 300,000 to 600,000 rubles or two to six years in a penitentiary with a ban on certain activity.

Navalny was convicted of fraud and some other crimes, including the establishment of an extremist network, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (branded extremist and banned in Russia). He is serving 19 years in a high-security penitentiary.