Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has asked a court to halt hourly night-time checks he has been subjected to in his penal colony. Speaking to the court by video link from prison, Mr Navalny said he has done nothing that would warrant the decision to designate him as a flight risk that has resulted in checks. He remains at that prison where he said the night-time checks continued, although they were less intrusive. With Mr Navalny in prison, prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to designate his Foundation for Fighting Corruption and his network of regional offices as extremist groups. The moves have been widely seen as an attempt to keep any of Mr Navalny’s associates from running in September’s parliamentary elections.

Source: Irish Independent May 31, 2021 16:00 UTC