Russia sentences late opposition leader Alexey Navalny's lawyers to years behind bars

Russia on Friday sentenced three lawyers who had defended Alexey Navalny to several years in prison for bringing messages from the late opposition leader from prison to the outside world.

The sentences come in the midst of a massive crackdown during Moscow's Ukraine offensive and as Russia seeks to punish Navalny's associates, even after his unexplained death in an Arctic prison colony last February.  

Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Liptser and Igor Sergunin were found guilty of participating in an "extremist organization" by a court in the town of Petushki.