Top human rights lawyer leaves Russia, citing criminal case against him

FILE PHOTO: Ivan Pavlov, a lawyer defending Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in an extremism case, speaks with journalists after a court hearing in Moscow, Russia May 17, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A prominent Russian human rights lawyer who defended jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's foundation and worked on many high-profile cases said on Tuesday that he had left Russia due to a criminal inquiry against him.

Ivan Pavlov is well known inside Russia for taking on politically sensitive cases and defending people accused of everything from treason to espionage.