Kremlin using intimidation to discourage Navalny's return, says ally
News Line
Ukraine reports 5,276 new COVID-19 cases Zelensky: Every third Ukrainian considers road construction one of greatest achievements of 2021 Ukraine ready to implement Minsk agreements, but Russia's desire needed - Yermak Michel: EU unanimously agree to roll over economic sanctions against Russia Actions by Ukraine's partners will help prevent worst-case scenario - Zelensky COVID-19 in Ukraine: Health officials confirm 8,899 daily cases as of Dec 17 Macron tells Zelensky he declared support for Ukraine in call with Putin Zelensky, Scholz discuss gas transit through Ukraine after 2024 Ukraine ready for any format of talks with Russia - Zelensky Ukraine’s only journalist in Russia facing extremism charges - lawyer PM Shmyhal: First two applications for investment projects worth $96 million filed Zelensky, PM of Italy discuss security situation around Ukraine President signs off State Budget 2022 London considering all options for responding to Russia's aggression against Ukraine Putin, Biden to hold another round of talks Some 260,000 Ukrainians “victims of human trafficking” over 30 years - prosecutor general Ukraine plans to create center to protect energy infrastructure from cyber attacks No clear idea so far when Normandy Four top diplomats set to meet - German Ambassador Ukraine receives EUR 600M in macro-financial assistance from EU Zelensky holds phone conversation with PM of Israel Ukraine sets new daily COVID vaccination record MFA: European Union has not yet removed Ukraine from list of safe countries Kyiv records 1,023 new COVID-19 cases, 29 deaths G7 ambassadors welcome adoption of law on NABU status Ukraine can increase Covid vaccination rates to 1.5M a week – Liashko

The Kremlin is trying to intimidate opposition politician Alexei Navalny to discourage him from returning to Russia to campaign once he recovers from his poisoning, one of his close allies said.

As the 44-year-old has convalesced in Germany where he was flown for medical care after falling ill in Siberia in August, Navalny’s team says Russian bailiffs have frozen his bank accounts and the title to his flat.

The Kremlin has since accused Navalny of working with the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, prompting the pro-government Federal News Agency to report that Navalny could be guilty of treason.

“We see all kinds of intimidation by them: ‘let’s arrest his apartment ... let’s open cases into state treason’,” Leonid Volkov, a senior member of Navalny’s team, told Reuters.

“It’s clear these are all just fakes designed to intimidate.”

Navalny says he will return to Russia, and the Kremlin has said he is free to do so. It has rejected Navalny’s allegation that President Vladimir Putin was behind his poisoning with a novichok nerve agent.

“Until Aug. 20 we couldn’t imagine that in modern Russia Putin could give an order to poison Navalny with novichok... this is a new reality that we have to learn to live with,” Volkov said.