Russian investigators seek to arrest top Navalny aide Ivan Zhdanov in absentia

Russian investigators have appealed to Moscow’s Nagatinsky District Court with a petition to arrest Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s recently outlawed Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK), in absentia.

Zhdanov’s lawyer, Vladimir Voronin, told Interfax about the appeal on June 28. In turn, Zhdanov wrote on Twitter that the court hearing is set to take place on June 30 at 2:30 p.m., Moscow time.

Voronin said that an investigator notified him about the hearing over the phone, but didn’t specify which case against Zhdanov the petition for his arrest in absentia is related to. Spokespeople for the Nagatinsky court said that it has yet to receive the case materials. 

On June 11, reports emerged that Ivan Zhdanov, who currently resides abroad, had been added to Russia’s federal wanted list. The Russian Interior Ministry database of wanted persons didn’t include specific charges against Zhdanov, but noted that he’s “wanted under an article of the criminal code.”

According to lawyer Vladimir Voronin, there are “four or five criminal cases” against Zhdanov under consideration in Russia. In particular, Zhdanov stands accused of creating an NGO that infringes on the liberties and rights of Russian citizens. He also faces charges for the malicious non-execution of a court order, in connection with his refusal to delete the FBK’s famous corruption investigation into Dmitry Medvedev, titled “Don’t Call Him Dimon.”

FBK founder Alexey Navalny is currently serving a 2.5 year prison sentence in Russia. A number of the foundation’s other employees are defendants in criminal cases, as well. A Russian court designated the FBK and Navalny’s political movement as illegal “extremist” groups in early June.