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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 26 January 2022
Russia adds Navalny and his top allies to list of terrorists

By DASHA LITVINOVA Previously Oleg was con-
Associated Press victed of fraud alongside
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian his brother in 2014, but while
authorities have added im- Alexei received a suspend-
prisoned opposition leader ed sentence, Oleg was or-
Alexei Navalny and some dered to serve 3 1/2 years
of his top allies to the coun- in prison. He was released
try’s registry of terrorists in June 2018.
and extremists, the latest The crackdown on Alexei
move in a multi-pronged Navalny and other dissent-
crackdown on opposition ing voices in Russia has elic-
supporters, independent ited outrage in the West.
media and human rights On Tuesday, EU foreign
activists. affairs spokesman Peter
Navalny, Russian President Stano reiterated that “this
Vladimir Putin’s fiercest is not acceptable, that we
critic, and eight of his al- see this as a continued re-
lies — including top aides pression against the critical
Lyubov Sobol and Georgy voices in Russian society.”
Alburov — were on Tues- Lyubov Sobol, who had left
day added to the registry the country after standing
by Russia’s Federal Finan- two trials on criminal charg-
cial Monitoring Service. The es last year, told The Associ-
law requires that the bank Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny gestures as he stands in a cage in the Babuskinsky ated Press on Tuesday she
accounts of those on the District Court in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. believed the decision to
list be frozen. Associated Press add Navalny, herself and
The move comes just a for violating the terms of a on independent media forced to shut down or other allies to the registry of
over a year after Navalny’s suspended sentence stem- and human rights groups disband to prevent further terrorists and extremists was
arrest, which triggered a ming from a 2014 fraud in recent months. Dozens prosecution. made in the Kremlin.
wave of the biggest mass conviction. In the following have been labeled as for- The authorities on Tuesday “There’s absolutely no
protests across the country months, Navalny’s brother eign agents — a designa- also petitioned the court to doubt that the decision
in years. The politician was Oleg and many of his top tion that implies additional have Oleg Navalny serve regarding myself, Navalny
detained upon his return allies also faced criminal government scrutiny and his one-year suspended and my closest associates
from Germany, where he charges, and the authori- strong pejorative connota- sentence in prison. Last and colleagues was made
spent five months recover- ties outlawed his Founda- tions that discredit the re- year Oleg, together with in the Kremlin with personal
ing from a nerve agent poi- tion for Fighting Corruption cipient. his brother’s top allies, contribution by Vladimir Pu-
soning he blamed on the and a sprawling network of Some were declared “un- was convicted of violat- tin. I think he has all matters
Kremlin. Russian authorities regional offices as extrem- desirable” — a label that ing coronavirus regulations involving our team under a
have denied any involve- ist, paralyzing their opera- outlaws organizations in over the protests in support special control, and it’s not
ment. tions. Russia — or were accused of the politician, and hand- a decision made by low-
Navalny was ordered to Russian authorities have of links to “undesirable” ed a one-year suspended er-ranked officials,” Sobol
serve 2 1/2 years in prison also ratcheted up pressure groups, and several were sentence. said. q

Dutch government eases lockdown

despite soaring infections

By MIKE CORDER opening hours limited to recent weeks because of
Associated Press 10 p.m., while professional the omicron variant, de-
THE HAGUE, Netherlands sports teams will only be spite the lockdown that
(AP) — Prime Minister Mark allowed to fill stadiums to was tougher than in most
Rutte further eased the a third of their normal ca- of Europe, but admissions
Netherlands’ coronavirus pacities. to the country’s intensive
lockdown, allowing bars, Soccer clubs and adminis- care units have been de-
restaurants, museums, the- trators protested the move clining. A lone girl waits for a tram in a near-deserted street full of
aters and other venues to even before it was offi- The national public health closed restaurants, bars and shop under a partial lockdown in
reopen from Wednesday cially announced, calling institute reported a 51% Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Nov. 26, 2021.
for the first time this year. it in a joint statement “a rise in new COVID-19 cas- Associated Press
But Rutte warned that the proposal without perspec- es over the last week to Omicron is less likely to ously been infected by
move wasn’t without risks. tive.” more than 366,000, while cause severe illness than prior versions of the virus.
“We are taking a big step The relaxation of restric- ICU admissions dropped the previous delta variant, The Dutch government
today to unlock the Neth- tions follows widespread by 34%. according to studies. Omi- sought to mitigate the risk
erlands while the infec- protests in recent weeks “We are taking another cron spreads even more by imposing restrictions
tions numbers are really by business owners rang- risk,” Health Minister Ernst easily than other corona- on venues where people
going through the roof,” ing from the Van Gogh Kuipers said. virus strains, and has al- gather, including the use
Rutte said Tuesday. Museum to local cafes at “We are doing that for ready become dominant of coronavirus passports
The announcement wasn’t being excluded from am good reason. Living longer in many countries. and social distancing and
all good news for the be- earlier easing of pandem- with many restrictive mea- It also more easily infects capping the number of
leaguered hospitality and ic restrictions. sures damages our health those who have been people allowed indoors
cultural sectors, with the Infections have spiked in and our society.” vaccinated or had previ- and in stadiums. q