Judges halt seven judicial hearings as UN official says his absence amounts to ‘forced disappearance’
Russian judges have halted new criminal proceedings for the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny as supporters say he has not contacted his lawyers in nearly two weeks and a UN official has said his absence amounted to a “forced disappearance”.
Courts halted seven judicial hearings on Monday “until [Navalny’s] whereabouts [is] established”, his lawyers said, further raising concerns that the Kremlin critic could be muzzled or even killed as Vladimir Putin has announced plans to extend his rule for a fifth presidential term.