Alexei Venediktov on the legitimacy of the elections

One of the court hearings in the Bolotnaya case against Leonid Razvozzhayev, who in October 2012 was abducted in Kyiv and taken to Moscow, where he was forced under torture to sign a confession — an incident that sparked international outrage. The activist is remanded in custody until April 2013. Udaltsov notes that he he behaved with dignity: “Executioners!” chant those present. Among the investigators leaving the courtroom, as can be heard from the shouts of Razvozzhayev's support group, is the person who tortured the activist.

The Leninsky Court in Kirov has postponed Alexei Navalny’s trial for one week, rescheduling the hearing for April 24. The delay was granted on the first day of proceedings at the request of the opposition leader’s lawyers, who argued that they had not had enough time to review all 29 volumes of the case. The defense also noted that some materials were printed on both sides of the pages, making their work more difficult. “I understand your disappointment, but we needed this,” Navalny said after the judge announced the postponement. Dozens of journalists from Moscow arrived in Kirov to cover the trial. According to Yevgenia Albats, editor-in-chief of The New Times magazine, reporters had to start queuing at 3 a.m. to get inside the courthouse.

Today, the trial in the Kirovles case begins in Kirov. This case had previously been dismissed several times due to lack of evidence. However, in the summer of 2012, it was reopened after Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, criticized the actions of the regional office employees who had closed the case. The main figure in the case is blogger and opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Vladimir Markin, an official representative of the Investigative Committee, said in an interview with the newspaper Izvestia that the investigation into the Kirovles case had been expedited because Navalny had “taunted the authorities.” On the eve of the trial, which promises to be one of the most high-profile cases of 2013, Alexei Navalny admitted to Lenta.doc that he does not expect an acquittal — and claimed that he knows who will decide how long he will serve.

The Coordination Council of the Russian opposition has now existed for six months. Elections for this civic and political body are scheduled for the fall of 2013, although skeptics doubt the Council will survive that long. Its first months were marked mostly by a series of public scandals and sluggish discussions on procedural rules. On most issues, the members — who are predominantly liberals — have been unable to reach a unified position. Lenta.doc presents a video portrait of the Coordination Council: six months of its life in four minutes.

A provocateur in Kirov prohibits the distribution of leaflets in support of Alexei Navalny, defendant in the Kirovles case.

Detention for putting up stickers in support of Alexei Navalny on charges of "violating public amenities." An independent observer is not allowed into the police station.