Russian investigators have launched a new “extremism” probe against jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny

The fresh probe comes after Navalny’s allies were already banned as “extremist” earlier this year ahead of Russia’s elections

The move could see the opposition leader jailed for up to 10 years.

Navalny’s groups were already banned as “extremist” earlier this year. But the fresh probe follows President Vladimir Putin’s Party shoring up another five years in control.

The Committee says that by 2014 Navalny had “created an extremist network and directed it” with the aim of “changing the foundations” of Russia’s “constitutional system”.

Investigators believe Navalny set up a number of social media accounts “in order to promote criminal activity”

Navalny was detained and sentenced to 2 and-a-half-years in a penal colony.

It comes as Russia’s opposition accuses authorities of mass voter fraud in the nation’s recent election, and Navalny calling for supporters to “keep up the fight”.