Aleksey Navalny’s lawyers are political prisoners
Vadim Kobzev, Aleksey Liptser, and Igor Sergunin are accused of membership in an extremist organisation
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Vadim Kobzev, Aleksey Liptser and Igor Sergunin as political prisoners. They are being prosecuted under the article on membership in an ‘extremist organisation’ in connection with their legitimate professional activities aimed at representing their client.
We demand an immediate release of Kobzev, Liptser and Sergunin, as well as an end to the unlawful prosecution of lawyers in Russia.
Who are Kobzev, Liptser and Sergunin, and what is the case against them?
Vadim Kobzev, 40, has represented Aleksey Navalny in court since 2011. Igor Sergunin, 45, visited the Russian opposition leader in a colony in the Vladimir region. Also known for other political trials, Aleksey Liptser, 36, defended Aleksey Navalny during his imprisonment. Liptser and Sergunin have not worked on Navalny’s cases since 2022.
Vadim Kobzev was detained on 13 October near Penal Colony No. 6 in the city of Kovrov, where he came to participate in a trial as a representative of Aleksey Navalny. At the same time, Liptser and Sergunin were detained in Moscow. Their homes and the Dalet Bar Association office building (the organisation where they and another Navalny’s defence lawyer Olga Mikhaylova — who was outside Russia at the moment — were members) were searched. Under the Basmanny District Court of Moscow order, the lawyers were taken into custody that day. The hearings were held in closed session.
The lawyers have been charged with membership in an ‘extremist organisation’ (Article 282.1, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code), facing up to six years in prison. According to the investigation, they ‘regularly passed information’ from Navalny to other members of the ‘community’ he organised.
Why do we consider Aleksey Navalny’s lawyers to be political prisoners?
For several years our project team has been following the criminal cases of Aleksey Navalny. We have repeatedly stated that the opposition leader and his colleagues are being persecuted by the Russian authorities for their legitimate political activities. Among other things, we have analysed the case of ‘Aleksey Navalny’s extremist organisation’ and come to the conclusion that the recognition of the legitimate political organisations created by Navalny and his team as an ‘extremist organisation’ is not justified. There is no evidence of their extremist activities.
The practice of applying Article 282.1 of the Russian Criminal Code is vicious. Absolutely lawful actions become criminal only because people accused of them are declared ‘members of an extremist organisation’.
The case of Navalny’s lawyers is a vivid example of this practice. They are accused of transferring information between ‘the leader of the extremist organisation’ and its members. There was not even an attempt to prove either the facts of committing any extremist crimes or the lawyers’ intention to participate in their preparation.
It is obvious that the purpose of the prosecution is to intimidate the lawyer community and leave Aleksey Navalny and others accused or convicted in political cases without qualified legal assistance.
Further information about this case and the position of the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with or approves of their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can sign a petition in defence of lawyers imprisoned for their political activities.
You can donate to support all political prisoners on our website.
