A Russian court outlawed the political and activist networks of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny as "extremist," a designation that bars the groups from any operations and puts their members and supporters at risk of up to six years in prison, Meduza reported June 9. Due to a recently passed law, Navalny's supporters are banned from seeking elected office at all levels of government for the next three years, which includes Russia's next presidential election in spring 2024, when Russian President Vladimir Putin will be eligible to seek a fifth term. The verdict enters force in 30 days.

Russian prosecutors claimed Navalny's organizations had "created conditions for destabilizing the sociopolitical situation" in the country "under the guise of liberal slogans" with the "aim to create conditions for changing the foundations of the constitutional order, including through 'color revolutions.'" The approval ratings of the ruling United Russia party and Putin have been near historic lows for the past year, prompting the crackdown.