Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was immediately returned to an isolation cell after fifteen days of isolation. As a result, a principle that dates back to Soviet times is thrown overboard, Navalny’s confidants announced on his Telegram channel.

At the same time, it became known that the first session of the new criminal trial against the 46-year-old would occur behind closed doors.

Normally, Russia and the former Soviet Union applied the principle that after two weeks in solitary confinement, at least one day of rest had to follow. Still, that principle has now been pushed aside. For Navalny, this is already the 14th solitary confinement since last summer.

In addition, Navalny must answer for extremism in a new criminal trial. The Kremlin critic himself spoke of an “absurd charge”. Navalny is accused of having prepared terrorist attacks from prison. “I risk 30 years and in the next probably life,” Navalny declared via video link on Wednesday at the first technical session.

The press is kept away from the process as much as possible. Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh stated that the court is trying to restrict Navalny’s communication with the media in this way.