Navalny's new trial threatens decades-long imprisonment.

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny appeared in court to defend himself against fresh charges of extremism, which could extend his prison term by decades. Navalny and his supporters claim that his arrest and imprisonment were politically motivated, intended to silence his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The trial was held behind closed doors due to fears of provocations against the participants. Navalny's team challenged the judge and questioned the location of the hearing. Lilia Chanysheva, the former coordinator of Navalny’s headquarters in Ufa, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison last week, after being found guilty of “organizing an extremist community.”