Russian judges have halted new criminal proceedings for the jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny as supporters say he has not contacted his lawyers in nearly two weeks and a UN official has said his absence amounted to a “forced disappearance”.
Courts halted seven judicial hearings on Monday “until [Navalny’s] whereabouts [is] established”, his lawyers said, further raising concerns that the Kremlin critic could be muzzled or even killed as Vladimir Putin has announced plans to extend his rule for a fifth presidential term.
