Activist Konstantin Kotov got away Russia ahead of his trial for donating cash to Alexei Navalnys political organizations, which the Russian authorities have prohibited as extremist.Kotov, a developer, exposed his escape in an interview with the independent news website Mediazona published on Friday.The activist was detained in August and put under home arrest on charges of funding extremist activity.
If founded guilty, he might face up to 8 years in prison.
Although he was scheduled to appear in a Moscow court on Friday, Kotov informed Mediazona that he got away to neighboring Lithuania several days ago.I realized there was definitely no point in playing live roulette with the court and the investigation, Kotov stated.
It was much better to take fate into my own hands and get my own freedom.Authorities accused Kotov of donating 2,500 rubles ($24) to Navalnys companies in five installations of 500 rubles each.
Navalnys political organizations were declared extremist by a Russian court in 2021, exposing their workers, volunteers and supporters to criminal prosecution.Kotov said his decision to leave Russia was influenced by the December sentencing of heart cosmetic surgeon Ivan Tishchenko, who got 4 years in jail for contributing 3,500 rubles ($34) to Navalnys groups.Another activist, Viktor Levakov, was also placed under home arrest in August for contributing 3,500 rubles to the prohibited companies.
Levakov had offered as a security guard at a makeshift memorial to opposition figure Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated outside the Kremlin in 2015.
Kotov got prominence in opposition circles after being sentenced to 4 years in jail for participating in street demonstrations throughout the 2019 Moscow election.
His sentence was later decreased to 18 months following an evaluation ordered by President Vladimir Putin.News of Kotovs escape from house arrest and ultimately Russia coincided with the sentencing of 3 previous Navalny lawyers, who were sentenced to prison for supposed involvement in extremist activities.