Is the Alexei Navalny fiasco harming Vladimir Putin?

Russia's lower house voted 293-45 in favor of the draft legislation, which would prevent members of "extremist" organizations from becoming lawmakers. Navalny's FBK is on the verge of being added to that list.

The fresh allegations include the theft of donations from his anti-corruption foundation, creating an organization in violation of human rights and insulting a judge.

The two leaders, at odds with the West over recent political maneuvers, have enjoyed a boat trip near Sochi. Last week, a plane was forced to land in Minsk to arrest a blogger critical of the Lukashenko regime.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's government is cracking down on his opponents' allies by chasing them out of state-run enterprises. Trade unions say the wave of firings is politically motivated. DW met one subway worker sacked for signing a pro-Navalny petition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin questions the point of meeting with Ukraine's leader, claiming Volodymyr Zelensky's country is effectively run by leaders in Washington and European capitals.

Authorities have removed websites belonging to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny and dozens of his allies. The move comes during the run-up to parliamentary elections in September.

Russia continues to court far-right parties in Europe as a means to destabilise more liberal Western democracies: That is the premise of a new book, “Russia and the Western Far Right - Tango Noir,” written by Anton Shekhovtsov. He joined us to discuss the book and his decision to put a photo of Russian President Vladimir Putin with France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen on the cover.

Putin expressed the devastating effect the demise of the USSR had on him and millions of others, admitting he took up driving a cab during hard times, even though he said "it's unpleasant to talk about."

At a European Parliament ceremony in Strasbourg, representatives of the jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have accepted the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought on his behalf.

Monday's meeting between the Russian and French presidents in Moscow gave rise to a lot of photoshopped content on social media - mostly sufficiently far-fetched so as not to be believable. We take a closer look. We also take a look at some convincing fake news stories that have been doing the rounds about Russia's current tensions with Ukraine and NATO.

Outspoken Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is facing new charges of fraud. If convicted, he could face a further 10 years in prison.