Free Republic

Moscow — A court in the Russian capital has granted government prosecutors' their wish, formally designating the anti-corruption and political movement led by jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny an extremist entity. It was likely the fatal blow for what has become the most resilient opposition force in Russian politics over the past decade.The court handed down its decision on Wednesday after a 12-hour closed-door hearing, essentially putting Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and an associated network of regional offices in the same category as ISIS and the Taliban in the eyes of the Russian government....Many of Navalny's close allies, including the...

Vladimir Putin's fierce rival and critic Alexei Navalny has died, according to the prison service. The Russian opposition leader, who was the most prominent and persistent domestic foe of President Vladimir Putin, had been serving a 19-year sentence on an extremism conviction. He had been incarcerated in central Russia’s Vladimir region, 140 miles east of Moscow. Navalny has been behind bars in Russia since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recuperating in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Before his arrest, he campaigned against official corruption and organized major anti-Kremlin protests.

The Abraham Accords, brokered by the Trump administration, were a serious greatest diplomatic achievement by the United States. Four formerly hostile Arab nations established diplomatic relations with Israel, recognizing its right to exist and opening trade and tourism. If Donald Trump were a Democrat, that would probably earn him a Nobel Peace Prize. Compare and contrast with Barack Obama, who was nominated for the Prize within 11 days of taking office, and ultimately won it for . . . what, exactly? Does anyone recall CNN glorifying President Trump and his administration over the stunning success of the Abraham Accords? Or...