Navalny in court as his network disbands

Alexei Navalny's political network yesterday said it is disbanding, as the jailed Kremlin critic appeared in court, gaunt and shaven headed, for the first time since ending his hunger strike. 

During the hearing, which is part of an appeal by Navalny against a defamation sentence imposed in February for insulting a World War II veteran, the opposition figure said he had lost more weight but had started eating again.

Another court held a hearing yesterday into a request from prosecutors that Navalny's regional network and his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) both be recognised as extremist, equating the organisations with the Islamic State group and al-Qaeda.

The head of the regional network, however, said it had already been decided to shutter it.

"We are officially disbanding Navalny's network," Leonid Volkov said in a video posted on social media yesterday.