The Russian judiciary has initiated criminal proceedings against three defence lawyers of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who died in custody in February. The three were put on trial in the the small town of Petushki, about 120 kilometres east of Moscow. They are accused of belonging to an extremist organization, specifically the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) founded by Navalny in 2011. Almost as soon as the hearing began on Thursday, the presiding judge declared that the trial of Vadim Kobzev, Igor Sergunin and Alexei Liptser would be held behind closed doors Trial observers said the judge …