Moscow Court Imposes Restrictions On Navalny Groups

A Russian court has approved a motion by prosecutors to restrict jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and his Citizens’ Rights Defense Foundation (FZPG).

“A judge of the Moscow City Court has considered the motion of the plaintiff to take interim measures of protection. The judge of the Moscow City Court has decided to use interim measures of protection in the form of prohibiting certain acts with regards to the Anti-Corruption Foundation and the Citizens’ Rights Defense Foundation noncommercial organizations,” the court’s press office said on April 27.

It did not specify the restrictions.

The day before, the Moscow prosecutor halted all activities of Navalny’s regional offices. It petitioned the court to do the same for the FBK and FZPG, as the prosecutors didn’t have the authority to do so on their own.

The move is part of a broader initiative by the Moscow prosecutor’s office, which seeks to have the court label the FBK, the FZPG, and Navalny’s regional headquarters, as “extremist” organizations.

That proposal has been condemned by international and domestic human rights groups, who say that if the Navalny’s organizations are labeled “extremist,” their employees and those passing on information about them could face arrest and lengthy prison terms.