RUSSIA today sentenced an exiled ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny to eight years in prison for criticising Moscow’s Ukraine campaign.  

The Kremlin has cracked down on dissent as its troops fight in Ukraine, punishing thousands of Russians for speaking out against the conflict.  

It has banned organisations founded by Navalny and handed the longtime critic an unprecedented 19-year prison sentence.  

A Moscow court sentenced Vladimir Milov, one of Navalny’s allies, to eight years for “spreading fake information on the Russia army” under legislation used to stifle criticism.   

Milov, like most of Navalny’s allies, fled Russia after the opposition leader’s organisations were banned as “extremist” shortly before the Kremlin launched its Ukraine campaign.  

Russia has continued to hand out sentences to Putin critics who have gone into exile.   

Milov dismissed the sentencing, saying on social media: “You won’t get away with your own eight years, comrades.”  

The sentence came as Navalny’s team said the politician is increasingly isolated from any contact with the outside world in prison.   

Navalny, who denounces the Kremlin’s Ukraine offensive from behind bars, is due to be moved to an even harsher prison.   

Last month, three of his lawyers were arrested, a move he denounced as “illegal”. - AFP, November 16, 2023.