Russian authorities detain lawyers for Alexei Navalny as pressure mounts on political prisoners
By DASHA LITVINOVA
Associated Press
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Allies of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny say Russian authorities have detained three of his lawyers after raiding their homes. Activists say the raids are an attempt to “completely isolate Navalny.” His spokeswoman told AP the opposition leader, who is serving a 19-year prison term, is set to be transferred to a “special security” penal colony with the highest security level in the Russian system. His allies worry that if Navalny doesn’t have access to his lawyers, he will end up in complete isolation and without proper representation. Other political prisoners in Russia in recent months have faced similar pressure in what appears to be an effort to isolate them as well.