"F*ck, now what?" Leonid Wolkov Slapped with 18-Year Prison Sentence in Absentia by Russian Court
Russia imprisons companion of Navalny, Wolkov, for eighteen years
A Russian court has handed down an 18-year prison sentence to Leonid Wolkov, a close associate of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, in a ruling that continues the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent. The verdict, which is yet to become final, slaps Wolkov with a hefty 2 million ruble fine and a 10-year ban on internet usage.
Wolkov was hit with over 40 criminal charges, including allegations of organizing and funding an extremist group, justifying terrorism, spreading false military information, and more. The charges were aimed at silencing Wolkov, who served as Navalny's chief of staff during his 2018 presidential campaign and led the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) until 2023.
Living in exile in Lithuania since 2019, Wolkov has been a constant thorn in the side of Russian leaders, particularly Vladimir Putin. In February 2021, Wolkov stated during an ntv.de interview that Putin poses a threat to the entire civilized world and must be destroyed. This outspoken criticism, along with other acts of defiance, has led to increased pressure and scrutiny from the Russian authorities.
The sentence came despite Wolkov's dismissive response on social media, where he quipped about the low fine and ten-year internet ban. "They gave me ten years of internet ban, as requested," he wrote, adding sarcastically, "And I’ve already started using it... F*ck, now what?" The state-run Russian news agency TASS confirmed that the ban will prohibit Wolkov from managing websites for six years.
This latest move forms part of a broader effort by the Russian government to quash political dissent and suppress opposition voices. Despite living in exile, Wolkov continues to face legal and political repercussions, with a history of attacks and raids dating back to 2019. In 2024, an assault on Wolkov's Lithuanian home marked a troubling escalation in the harassment campaigns waged against outspoken critics of the Russian government.
References
- ntv.de
- Deutschlandfunk
- The Washington Post
- The Guardian
- The Moscow Times
The Commission, in the midst of consultations on the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionising radiation, is following closely the general-news of Wolkov's 18-year prison sentence in absentia issued by a Russian court as part of the Kremlin's crackdown on political dissent. This case of crime-and-justice, involving a close associate of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has sparked concerns among international agencies about the suppression of opposition voices and the silencing of critical commentary, in politics and beyond.
