Russia’s opposition politician Alexei Navalny said Monday he would shut down his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) due to hefty court fines imposed over some of its investigations.
The foundation has specialised in high-impact investigations. The targeted individuals have sometimes disputed its findings and taken successful legal action against it.
Navalny said the latest court fines amounted to $1.23 million, and added he would try to re-launch the foundation under a new name. “Everything we had was already seized in previous police raids. Now they are going to take away the organisation itself”, he said.
Authorities have previously frozen the foundation’s bank accounts, and accused it of money laundering. Its employees and volunteers have been routinely detained for participating in protest rallies.
Navalny, 44, has endured multiple incarcerations in recent years, a barred attempt to run for president, and a hamstrung bid for the Moscow mayor’s post.
