Russia: Navalny's Former Lawyers Sentenced to Prison Terms

A court in Russia's Vladimir region has handed down prison sentences to three former lawyers of Alexei Navalny, Orda reports, citing Mediazona. 

Vadim Kobzev received five years and six months, Alexey Liptser five years, and Igor Sergunin three years and six months in a penal colony. Only Sergunin pleaded guilty.

The sentences came after prosecutors had sought terms ranging from five and a half years to five years and eleven months during the December 17 hearing.

Meanwhile, the defense team has announced they will appeal the verdict.

Following the sentencing, Alexey Liptser's lawyer, Andrey Orlov, remarked that the verdict was "expected" and would inevitably impact Russia's legal advocacy system.

When a foreign journalist questioned whether defending Russian opposition figures in court was still possible, Orlov responded: 

As the sentences were announced, supporters in the courtroom broke out in shouts of encouragement for the convicted lawyers, Mediazona reports.