The trial of Ksenia Fadeeva, an associate of the well-known oppositionist Alexei Navalny, has started in the district court in Tomsk, Siberia. Fadeeva was accused of “creating a terrorist organization”.
Information about the trial was provided by the AFP agency, citing court spokeswoman Larisa Markina. “The court in Tomsk has started to consider the case of Ksenia Fadeeva,” the spokeswoman said. The 31-year-old politician who headed Navalny’s regional election headquarters in Tomsk is also accused of “participating in an organization that threatens the rights of citizens.”
According to the portal vtomske.ru, judge Dmitry Khudyakov allowed journalists to participate in the trial, as well as to take photos and record. “One of the lawyers applied to read the materials of the case because he recently joined the trial. The volume of the case is over 90 volumes. The court granted this request,” the portal reported.
Little success of the opposition
Fadeeva was elected to the Tomsk city council in 2020 along with other independent activists, which was one of the few successes of the Russian opposition at the time.
Ksenia FadeevaMAXIM SHEMETOV/Reuters/Forum
Fadeeva headed Navalny’s local electoral headquarters in Tomsk for several years. The regional headquarters of the opponent of the authorities in the Kremlin were created in 2017, before elections presidential elections in which Navalny intended to run. However, the Russian Central Election Commission did not register his candidacy. Despite this, the staffs continued their work, conducting political and social activities.
Recognized as “extremists”
In 2021, Navalny’s campaign teams were labeled “extremist” by the authorities, putting his supporters and associates at risk of criminal trials. Many of them left then Russiabut Fadeeva refused to leave and was detained in December 2021.
“Fadeeva is one of the few associates of Navalny who has not left Russia,” wrote vtomske.ru.
Fadeeva’s trial is underway after Navalny’s conviction on August 4 for “extremism” to 19 years imprisonment.
“The reading of the indictment lasted almost two hours. After that, the judge ordered a one-day break in the trial. The oppositionist and her defense will comment on the charges at Tuesday’s meeting,” vtomske.ru reported.
Main photo source: MAXIM SHEMETOV/Reuters/Forum