Russian Authorities Crack Down on Navalny's Lawyers, Heightening Pressure on Opposition Leader

Three lawyers representing imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have been arrested, leaving him without legal protection and further isolating him from the outside world. Navalny is serving a 30-year sentence on politically motivated charges, and his lawyers' arrests are seen as a warning to others not to defend him or other political prisoners. The lawyers are being investigated for their alleged involvement in an "extremist" organization, based on Navalny's leadership of the Anti-Corruption Foundation. If convicted, they could face up to six years in prison. Navalny's lawyers' arrests are part of a broader effort to silence and isolate him.