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Moscow court arrests Navalny associate in absentia over calls for unlawful rallies

According to some reports, the defendant is currently in Germany

MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Moscow’s Basmanny Court has arrested head of the network of Alexey Navalny’s regional headquarters Leonid Volkov in absentia for calling on teenagers to take part in unlawful rallies, the court’s spokesperson Irina Sofinskaya told TASS.

She noted that the court had ruled to put Volkov into custody and to place him on an international wanted list. This measure of restraint will be enforced for two months since his detention on Russian territory or since his extradition to Russia, the spokesperson added.

On January 29, Russia’s Investigative Committee charged Volkov in absentia for urging teenagers to participate in illegal rallies on January 23, the press service of the Investigative Committee told journalists. He is to be tried under Article 151.2 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (inducing minors to illegal actions on information and telecommunication networks). Earlier, the committee informed that he had been placed on a wanted list.

A criminal case against Volkov is investigated by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee. Earlier, the agency reported that during the investigation video recordings were uncovered of Volkov urging minors to participate in illegal rallies.

According to some reports, the defendant is currently in Germany. The interstate warrant only applies within the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and involves detention, arrest and extradition.