Three lawyers who previously represented the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny have gone on trial in Russia, highlighting the Kremlin's intensified crackdown on dissent. Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin, and Alexei Liptser face charges related to extremist activities, which are widely viewed as a tactic to intimidate defense lawyers from engaging in politically sensitive cases. The trial, held in Petushki and closed to the public and media, follows Navalny's mysterious death in a penal colony in February, leading to increased scrutiny of Russia's judicial practices. Authorities claim the lawyers used their positions to facilitate communication between Navalny and his supporters, an accusation that further isolates Navalny. The charges carry a potential six-year prison sentence, reflecting the Kremlin's broader efforts to suppress opposition. Amidst these developments, Navalny's political movement and supporters continue to face severe repression, including the addition of his wife to a 'terrorists and extremists' blacklist.