oppositionist

"In the first half of 2020, a member of Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov's security apparatus contracted the accused Valid D. to organise the killing of an exiled oppositionist in Germany," prosecutors wrote.

Vladimir supported Russian oppositionist Alexei Navalny, who is now in prison, and attended his rallies.

Kolesnikova and her fellow oppositionist Maxim Znak, who got 10 years, were tried behind closed doors on unfounded charges, a spokesperson of the EU's executive Commission said on Monday.

German foreign ministry spokesperson Andrea Sasse said Kolesnikova and her fellow oppositionist Maxim Znak, who got 10 years, were campaigners for freedom, democracy and human rights and could count on the German government's solidarity.

“Here is what happens when a nonsystem oppositionist supported by the American Embassy gains power,” military analyst Igor Korotchenko said on Russian state TV.