MOSCOW: A Russian court on Thursday sentenced an ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny to eight years prison in absentia for criticizing Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine.
Shortly after Russia launched its military campaign last year, lawmakers made it illegal to criticize the conflict and thousands have been detained for speaking out.
Vladimir Milov, who helped Navalny with his failed 2018 presidential bid, fled the country shortly after the Kremlin labelled the opposition leader’s organizations as “extremist.”
A Moscow court sentenced him to eight years for “spreading fake information about the Russia army” under legislation used to stifle criticism.
Milov dismissed the sentencing in a post on social media, saying: “You won’t get away with your own eight years, comrades.”
Organizations founded by Navalny have been banned in Russia, and in August a Russian court handed the longtime Kremlin critic an unprecedented 19-year prison sentence.
Milov’s sentencing came as Navalny’s team said the politician was being increasingly isolated from any contact with the outside world in prison.
Navalny, who denounces the Kremlin’s Ukraine offensive from behind bars, is due to be moved to an even harsher prison.
Last month, three of his lawyers were arrested, a move he denounced as “illegal.”
The lawyers — Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser — were on Thursday blacklisted by Russia’s financial crimes watchdog for carrying out “extremist activities or terrorism,” effectively blocking their bank accounts.
Russia sentences exiled Navalny ally to eight years
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Russia sentences exiled Navalny ally to eight years
- A Moscow court sentenced him to eight years for “spreading fake information about the Russia army” under legislation used to stifle criticism
- Organizations founded by Navalny have been banned in Russia
Indonesia eyes investment boost from UAE after leaders’ meeting
- Indonesia-UAE trade was worth $6.4b in 2025, up from $5b in 2024
- President Prabowo Subianto, MBZ also discussed increasing cooperation in renewable energy, tech, AI
JAKARTA: Indonesia is expecting more investments from the UAE, the Indonesian government said on Friday following talks between President Prabowo Subianto and his Emirati counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
Indonesia’s relations with the UAE grew under former President Joko Widodo, who in 2021 secured more than $46 billion investment commitment from the Gulf state.
Subianto visited Abu Dhabi earlier this week accompanied by Foreign Minister Sugiono, and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia on a trip aimed at strengthening cooperation under the Indonesia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
“The meeting discussed cooperation to increase investment (and) strengthen bilateral cooperation. The UAE wants to increase its investment in Indonesia,” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a statement, without disclosing any amount.
Indonesia and the UAE signed the free trade deal in 2022, which came into force a year later. It was Jakarta’s first with a Gulf country and Abu Dhabi’s first with a Southeast Asian nation.
The Indonesia-UAE CEPA erases about 99 percent of existing tariffs and includes commitments to increase Indonesia’s services exports to the UAE by 6 percent while mutually recognizing each country’s halal certification.
Commerce between the two countries has seen a boost since then, with bilateral trade reaching more than $6.4 billion in 2025, according to Indonesian Trade Ministry data, showcasing an increase of nearly 27 percent from the previous year, when it was worth around $5 billion.
The Emirati state news agency WAM said the talks in Abu Dhabi also covered ways to increase cooperation in other sectors, including renewable energy, technology, artificial intelligence, sustainability, food security and culture.
“The (UAE) president noted the continuing progress of long-standing UAE-Indonesia relations, which are founded on mutual trust, respect and shared interests,” WAM said.
“He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to advancing its development and economic partnership with Indonesia for the benefit of both countries and their peoples.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and the UAE.
The UAE was Subianto’s last stop on a multi-nation trip, which included the US, the UK and Jordan.
