Russia suspends operations of Navalny’s offices

Bloomberg

Russian prosecutors ordered Alexey Navalny’s national network of campaign offices to suspend operations because of alleged “extremism,” deepening the crackdown on allies of the jailed opposition leader.
The order bans the groups from posting online, organising events and using bank accounts pending a permanent court ruling, according to a copy posted in Twitter by Navalny’s allies.
The Moscow City Court began considering prosecutors’ request to designate Navalny’s foundations as “extremist” and order them closed. Those proceedings are closed to the public as the authorities say materials involve classified information. Under Russian law, prosecutors don’t have the authority to suspend the funds’ operations, but the can ban campaign offices, the court said. The prosecutors’ order is the latest step in a tightening squeeze on Navalny’s organisation and allies.
An official “extremism” designation would effectively render all activity illegal, Navalny’s allies say. The Moscow campaign staff announced in Telegram that it would have to suspend all publications online after the order, with staffers continuing work in a personal capacity.
Authorities have alleged Navalny’s organisations were preparing a “colour revolution” aimed at taking over the country on behalf of their western sponsors. Navalny and his allies deny that. The next session in the court case is set for Thursday. The nationwide
network of campaign offices organised protests and challenged ruling-party candidates in regional and national elections, including a parliamentary contest set for September. Many local activists had been detained by authorities as they called for protests seeking for Navalny’s release. Tens of thousands of Russians turned out for those rallies around the country and more than 1,000 were detained by police.
His Anti-Corruption Fund had become known for its online exposes of alleged official corruption, including of a Black Sea palace allegedly used by President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin denies that. Last summer, Navalny announced the Anti-Corruption Fund, already under legal pressure, was being replaced by the Foundation for the Defense of Citizens’ Rights.
The opposition leader was jailed when he returned to Russia in January after more than four months in Germany recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning he and western governments blame on the Kremlin. Russian authorities deny involvement.