In a significant move reflecting ongoing repression in Russia, a court has sentenced three lawyers who represented late opposition leader Alexei Navalny to prison terms ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years. The lawyers were convicted on charges of extremism, which critics claim are politically motivated. The French government condemned the actions as an ‘act of intimidation’ following the sentencing. Furthermore, multiple journalists were reportedly arrested while trying to cover the hearing, highlighting the severe restrictions on press freedom in Russia. This latest development underscores the intensifying crackdown on dissent under the current regime.