Alexei Navalny, the fiercest opponent of Vladimir Putin’s regime of terror in Russia, has suffered poisoning, false imprisonment and torture for exercising his basic right to protest the actions of his government. He is currently scheduled for transfer to a “special security” penal colony where his access to the outside world will be even more limited than it is now. (Navalny has not been able to speak to his family for over a year). Visits from his lawyers are his lifeline both legally and practically.

On Oct. 13, the eve of a court challenge to the transfer, the Russian authorities searched the homes and offices of Navalny’s lawyers—Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin—and arrested them on charges of participating in an “extremist” group. They are presently being held in pre-trial detention.