Three lawyers representing Alexei Navalny received prison sentences in Russia, intensifying the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent. Sentences ranged from 3.5 to 5.5 years due to alleged ties to extremist groups linked to Navalny's organizations. Supporters praised the lawyers in court, while their defense criticized the verdict as illegal and unfair. The case is seen as an intimidation tactic against legal professionals. Navalny, a critic of Putin, was arrested in 2021 and died in custody in 2023, prompting human rights groups to label the lawyers as political prisoners.