Navalny's Jail Time Extended to 19 Years: Putin's Fear of Dissent Grows

Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has been sentenced to 19 years in prison on extremism charges, adding to his existing 11-and-a-half-year sentence on fraud charges. Navalny and his supporters claim that his arrest and imprisonment are politically motivated, aimed at silencing his criticism of President Vladimir Putin. The verdict comes amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent in Russia, raising concerns about the treatment of Putin's opponents. The European Union has condemned Navalny's sentence, expressing deep concern about reports of ill-treatment and harassment by prison authorities. Navalny had previously been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok, with a joint investigation implicating the Russian Security Service (FSB) in the attack.