Russian opposition activists set for court amid crackdown

Two opposition activists in Russia are preparing for court hearings as authorities continue to crack down on dissent ahead of the country’s September parliamentary election

MOSCOW -- Two opposition activists in Russia prepared for court hearings Wednesday as authorities continue to crack down on dissent ahead of the country's September parliamentary election. A court in Moscow is set to consider investigators’ request to lock up Dmitry Gudkov, a former Russian lawmaker who has aspired to run again for a parliament seat. Gudkov was detained Tuesday on financial charges that he and his supporters allege were trumped up. In the southern city of Krasnodar, a court was scheduled to consider whether to keep Andrei Pivovarov, the head of the Open Russia movement, in custody pending an investigation. Open Russia's leaders dissolved the group last week after Russian authorities designated it as an “undesirable” organization along with more than 30 others using a 2015 law that made membership in such organizations a criminal offense.