Russian prosecutors seek 20 more years for opposition politician Navalny

FILE PHOTO: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via video link from a penal colony during a preliminary hearing at the Moscow City Court in a new criminal case against Navalny on numerous charges, including the creation of an extremist organization, in Moscow, Russia, May 31, 2023. Moscow City Court/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

(Reuters) -Russian state prosecutors on Thursday asked a court to sentence jailed opposition politician Alexei Navalny to a further 20 years in a penal colony on criminal charges, including extremism, at the close of his trial, his supporters said.

The 47-year-old has been on trial behind closed doors for a month at the IK-6 penal colony in Melekhovo, about 235 km (145 miles) east of Moscow, where he is already serving sentences totalling 11-1/2 years on fraud and other charges which he says were trumped up to silence him.