U.S. Sanctions Russian Judge in High-Profile Human Rights Clampdown, Citing Unfair Detention of Anti-War Activist Alexei Gorinov

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. has leveled sanctions against Russian judge Olesya Mendeleeva, accusing her of playing a critical role in the imprisonment of activist Alexei Gorinov, who opposed Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Gorinov, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, received a seven-year prison sentence after he criticized Russia’s involvement in Ukraine during a local council meeting. The sanctions, enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department, involve the freezing of any assets Mendeleeva possesses under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit any transactions between her and American entities. This measure highlights the U.S. government’s reproach of what … Read more

Russian Opposition Lawyer Briefly Detained in Moscow, Hindering Efforts to Release Alexei Navalny’s Body

MOSCOW (AP) — A lawyer assisting the late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s mother in her efforts to secure his body from authorities was briefly detained on Tuesday, according to Russian news media. Vasily Dubkov, the lawyer, confirmed that he was released after the incident but did not provide details about the reason for his detention. Dubkov’s detention, however, was seen as an obstruction to his work as a lawyer. Dubkov’s assistance played a crucial role in helping Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, in obtaining the release of her son’s body. Navalny died unexpectedly in an Arctic … Read more