The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) has condemned the arrest of lawyers representing jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Liptser and Igor Sergunin were arrested last Friday ‘seemingly as a direct consequence of discharging their professional duties’. They should be released immediately with all charges dropped, IBAHRI said.
On Friday morning, Russian authorities searched the homes and offices of the trio, confiscating equipment and privileged documents. The lawyers stand accused of associating with an extremist group, which carries a prison sentence of up to six years. It also entails suspension from practice and the seizing of their assets.
The detention of the three lawyers has left Navalny without legal representation at a 'delicate time', said IBAHRI. He is being moved to a ‘special regime’ detention facility where ‘he will likely be at heightened risk of ill-treatment’.
IBAHRI co-chair Mark Stephens said: ‘Russia’s systematic restrictions and repressive actions against lawyers are a key component of its strategy to silence opposition. Lawyers are not only subjected to disciplinary, administrative and criminal harassment and prosecution, but also to physical violence amounting to torture and ill-treatment. Such widespread and escalating acts of intimidation create a chilling effect on the whole system and constitute an unacceptable affront to the rule of law.’
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