Alexei Navalny – the jailed critic of Vladimir Putin – has appeared in court in Russia on new “extremism” charges that could extend his prison term by decades.

The Russian opposition leader is already serving sentences totalling 11-and-a-half years after being found guilty of charges – including fraud.

He now faces a new trial, including allegations of creating an extremist organisation, which is taking place at a maximum security prison in Melekhovo, 150 miles east of Moscow.

The 47-year-old says he faces up to 30 years in prison if found guilty of the charges, which he has previously described as “absurd”.

During the hearing, he stood and spoke for about three minutes, contesting the authority of the judge.

“I believe that, taking into account the current circumstances, and of criminal law, you should withdraw,” he said.

In March last year, Mr Navalny was sentenced to nine years in prison after he was found guilty of large-scale fraud and contempt of court.

He was already serving a two-and-a-half year sentence for parole violations related to charges he claims were fabricated.

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Mr Navalny, a lawyer who exposed official corruption and organised major anti-Kremlin protests, is serving his sentence in a maximum-security penal colony at Melekhovo.

Earlier this month, Mr Navalny had his sarcastic demands to Russian prison officials for a pet kangaroo, a Russian musical instrument called a balalaika, and a bottle of moonshine liquor denied.

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