Leonid Volkov, a former deputy of the Yekaterinburg City Duma and ex-head of “Navalny’s Headquarters,” has been sentenced in absentia to 18 years in prison. The Second Western District Military Court delivered the verdict, finding him guilty of extremism, spreading false information about the Russian army, and other offenses.

In addition to the prison sentence, Volkov was fined 2 million rubles. The court stipulated that the first five years of his term must be served in prison, followed by the remainder in a strict regime colony.

Volkov, who is currently abroad, was added to the Ministry of Justice’s list of foreign agents in 2022. A criminal case was initiated against him in January 2021, which led to searches of his parents’ home in Yekaterinburg.

Volkov was placed on an international wanted list. He announced the closure of all Navalny’s Headquarters in Russia in 2022, after they were designated as extremist organizations and their funding was blocked.

“Navalny’s Headquarters” has been officially recognized as an extremist organization, and its activities are prohibited within the Russian Federation. FBK, where Volkov was employed, is also recognized as an extremist organization and has been liquidated in Russia.