Oleg Navalny risks arrest upon return to Russia, faced with new allegations amid brother's death
5:36 PM EST, February 20, 2024
According to Reuters, Oleg Navalny is wanted by Russian authorities. This is due to another criminal case launched against him by the Russian prosecutor's office following the death of his brother.
Unfortunately, the TASS agency has not provided any information about the charges or why legal proceedings were initiated against Oleg, who is already a wanted individual in another case.
Oleg Navalny, a supporter of his brother's efforts, was incarcerated in a penal colony. In 2014, he was sentenced to 3.5 years on allegations of financial misconduct, a charge critics claimed was intended to apply pressure on Alexei. Oleg was released from the penal colony in 2018 but was convicted again three years later.
More recently, he received a one-year probation sentence for participating in demonstrations supporting Alexei Navalny. Following his brother's death, Oleg finds himself in legal trouble again.
In the past, the Moscow court claimed that Navalny was in violation of restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic, a pretext many believe was aimed at punishing the Navalny brothers.
Whereabouts of Oleg Navalny
RIA Novosti reported in 2022 that Oleg Navalny may have left Russia for Cyprus. His current location, however, remains uncertain. There's little doubt that he would face imprisonment and potentially a similar fate to his deceased brother if he were to return to Russia.
Like his sister-in-law Yulia Navalny, Oleg Navalny is considered a threat by the Putin administration. Yulia has announced her intention to continue Alexei's work.
In 2022, "Wprost" reported that Alexei Navalny's brother was convicted in absentia for violation of conditions relating to his suspended sentence.
Alexei Navalny died in Penal Institution No. 3 in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District of Russia. According to the prison services' official report, he fell ill after a walk and quickly lost consciousness. He was 47 years old. His body has not been released to his mother, who attempted to claim it.
