Russian state prosecutors are seeking a 3.5-year sentence for opposition politician Alexei Navalny, alleging parole violations. 

Authorities arrested Navalny, a critic of Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinRussian prosecutors seeking jail term for Navalny US prepared to ‘stand up’ to Moscow, says secretary of State Blinken: Capitol riot response ‘sends a powerful message’ to other countries MORE, upon his return to Russia last month after he spent months recovering from nerve agent attack on a Russian flight. He is serving 30 days in prison.   

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s office labeled the court’s petition as legal and justified, noting it will ask for the request to be granted after the court reviews it on Tuesday, Reuters reported Monday.

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The 44-year-old Putin critic and his allies have requested his supporters demonstrate outside of the court in Moscow on Tuesday, according to news reports, two days after more than 5,100 Russians, including 80 journalists, were arrested during rallies in Moscow protesting his detainment.

Among those arrested were Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya, who was fined about $265 for participating in the protest, according to The Associated Press. 

The treatment of Navalny and his supporters has sparked international criticism, including from the U.S., where Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenOvernight Defense: Biden warns of sanctions after Myanmar coup | Biden asks Supreme Court to cancel border wall arguments | Dem urges screening of troops’ social media Russian prosecutors seeking jail term for Navalny US joins international condemnation of military coup in Myanmar MORE released a statement condemning Moscow’s “harsh tactics against peaceful protesters and journalists.”

Reps. Gregory MeeksGregory Weldon MeeksHillicon Valley: Robinhood raises .4 billion over weekend after GameStop fury | New State Dept. cyber bureau stirs concern | Intel agency warns of threats from China collecting sensitive US health data Russian prosecutors seeking jail term for Navalny New State Department cyber bureau stirs opposition MORE (D-N.Y.) and Michael McCaulMichael Thomas McCaulHillicon Valley: Robinhood raises .4 billion over weekend after GameStop fury | New State Dept. cyber bureau stirs concern | Intel agency warns of threats from China collecting sensitive US health data Russian prosecutors seeking jail term for Navalny New State Department cyber bureau stirs opposition MORE (R-Texas), the chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, also blasted the arrests in a Monday joint statement, calling for their immediate release. 

“The United States and broader transatlantic community stand in solidarity with the Russian people who — despite the threat of violent arrest and freezing cold — continue to demand their fundamental human rights and due process of law be respected and the Putin regime be held accountable for its shameless corruption,” the lawmakers said.

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But Russia dismissed the international concerns.

“We are not prepared to accept or heed American statements about this,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Reuters. 

“There can be no conversation with hooligans and provocateurs, the law should be applied with the utmost severity,” Peskov added. 

Vladimir Ashurkov, an ally to Navalny, sent a letter to President Biden over the weekend asking for sanctions against Putin’s allies, something Russia warned the U.S. against pursuing.

Washington state may soon push to end the sale of diesel-fueled cars by the year 2030 after a bill was introduced in the state legislature that would require all cars sold be electric.

The bill, sponsored by more than two dozen Democrats, was introduced in both legislative chambers in January. The state House Transportation Committee held its first hearing on the bill Monday.

ABC News reports that Washington legislators who support the bill said it would speed up the transition from gas-powered vehicles as well as building the infrastructure to support electric vehicles.

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Coltura, an environmental nonprofit that helped in drafting the bill, states that 99 percent of vehicles in Washington are gas-powered and the bill would affect over 10 million vehicles in the following 30 years.

Democratic state Rep. Nicole Macri said in a statement, “Clean Cars 2030 will ensure that our policy goals and actions move us rapidly toward a 100 percent clean energy environment and keep pace with what is now a global trend toward vehicle electrification.”

Hydrogen-powered cars, emergency vehicles and vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds would not be affected by the bill, ABC News reports.

“Without the certainty of a close, attainable date, we are likely to approach the transition off gasoline in an unnecessarily slow and haphazard manner, and cause vast amounts of unnecessary carbon release in the process,” Matthew Metz, co-director of Coltura, told the outlet.

Other U.S. states such as California and Massachusetts have recently committed to phasing out diesel-fueled cars in the near future. Both states have released plans to have 100 percent of cars sold produce zero emissions by the year 2035.

In November, the U.K. moved up its deadline to ban the sale of diesel cars by the year 2030.

Automobile manufacturing giant General Motors announced in January that it would seek to shift production to an all-electric light duty fleet by 2035 as part of its goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2040.

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Overnight Defense. I’m Rebecca Kheel, and here’s your nightly guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. CLICK HERE to subscribe to the newsletter.

THE TOPLINE: The United States has officially extended its last remaining nuclear treaty with Russia for five years.

Secretary of State Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal US ‘disappointed’ by UN court decision on Iran case: State Department Study group recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal MORE announced the extension of the New START treaty in a statement Wednesday morning, two days before the agreement was set to expire.

“Especially during times of tension, verifiable limits on Russia’s intercontinental-range nuclear weapons are vitally important,” Blinken said. “Extending the New START Treaty makes the United States, U.S. allies and partners, and the world safer. An unconstrained nuclear competition would endanger us all.”

Background: New START, which was negotiated by the Obama administration, places caps on U.S. and Russian “strategic” nuclear weapons.

The Trump administration wanted to replace it with a treaty that included China, as well as Russia’s so-called tactical nuclear weapons. But China rejected joining the talks, and Russia wanted a clean five-year extension.

Shortly after taking office, President Biden announced he would pursue that clean five-year extension, which Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Hackers had access to SolarWinds email system for months: report Why hypersonic weapons cannot live up to their hype MORE quickly agreed to.

What’s next: In his statement Wednesday, Blinken said the United States will work over the next five years to extend the parameters of the treaty to address all of Russia’s nuclear weapons while also pursuing arms control with China to reduce its nuclear arsenal.

“President Biden has made clear that the New START Treaty extension is only the beginning of our efforts to address 21st century security challenges,” Blinken said. “The United States is committed to effective arms control that enhances stability, transparency and predictability while reducing the risks of costly, dangerous arms races.”

Allies happy: In its own statement Wednesday morning, NATO’s North Atlantic Council said it “fully supports” the U.S. agreement with Russia.

“NATO allies believe the New START treaty contributes to international stability, and allies again express their strong support for its continued implementation and for early and active dialogue on ways to improve strategic stability,” the statement said.

But the alliance also warned that extending the treaty does not eliminate threats posed by Russia.

“Even as the United States engages Russia in ways that advance our collective interests, NATO remains clear-eyed about the challenges Russia poses. We will work in close consultation to address Russia’s aggressive actions, which constitute a threat to Euro-Atlantic security,” the council said in a statement.

‘STAND DOWN’ TO STAND UP TO EXTREMISM: Defense Secretary Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Pentagon chief orders militarywide ‘stand-down’ to tackle elusive issue of extremism Navy unveils nearly 60 recommendations to counter racism, improve diversity MORE has ordered a military-wide “stand-down” to address extremism in the ranks, though the Pentagon has little information on what that actually means.

Leaders are expected to hold “needed discussions” with subordinates about extremism in the next 60 days, top department spokesperson John Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. 

But Kirby also said leadership still needs to provide specific guidance on the expectations of the stand down and that more details are coming. He could not say what Austin hopes to learn from the effort or his plans for after.

“One of the reasons the secretary wants to do this stand-down is to see the scope of the problem. . . . We don’t want to overestimate or underestimate the number of people it might affect,” Kirby said. 

“It may be more than we’re comfortable hearing and admitting and probably a lot less than the media attention surrounding it seems to suggest it could be. But where is it? It’s just not clear.”

Austin made the decision Wednesday after he met with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark MilleyMark MilleyOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Pentagon chief orders militarywide ‘stand-down’ to tackle elusive issue of extremism Overnight Defense: FEMA asks Pentagon to help with vaccinations | US says Taliban has ‘not met their commitments’ | Army investigating Fort Hood chaplain MORE and the service secretaries and chiefs.

In the Navy: Earlier Wednesday, the Navy released nearly 60 recommendations in an attempt to quell racial and gender-based discrimination among its sailors.

The final report of Task Force One Navy — which for six months has scrutinized systemic racism and discrimination in its ranks based on race, sexual orientation and identity, gender and religious beliefs — found that the service needs to do more to address hate speech and a lack of diversity among its top officials.

The report lays out 57 recommendations that span across recruiting, career development and retention, finding that existing efforts, “while admirable in many respects, clearly fell short of adequately addressing the societal challenges of today.”

“We needed to seize this moment to engage in conversations about race, diversity and inclusion within our force more than ever before,” the report states. “We had to have open, honest and necessary conversations across our Navy and take action.”

BIPARTISAN PANEL SAYS TO DELAY AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL: The Taliban has not met conditions that would warrant a full U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan by May, a congressionally mandated panel said in a report released Wednesday, recommending the Biden administration instead refocus on the conditions of the withdrawal as agreed to last year and work to extend the impending deadline.

The Afghanistan Study Group “believes that it will be very difficult, and perhaps impossible, for those conditions to be achieved by May 2021, when the agreement states that troops should be withdrawn,” the report said. 

“Achieving the overall objective of a negotiated stable peace that meets U.S. interests would need to begin with securing an extension of the May deadline,” the report continued, adding that “the United States must elevate the importance of the conditions allowing the withdrawal of U.S. troops.”

Speaking to reporters ahead of the report’s release, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Gen. Joseph Dunford, who co-chaired the group, said the panel “tried to not be emotional … about the, ‘Should we stay or should we go, we’ve been there 20 years.’”

“We think that right now the focus ought to be on taking advantage, to the extent possible, the Afghan peace negotiation and setting the conditions for a pathway for the Afghans eventually to come up with a construct where they can address the political extremes of the Taliban and the Afghan government,” added Dunford, whose tenure as the nation’s top general spanned both the Obama and Trump administrations.

“So I understand from an emotional perspective people who would say to leave. But from a pure logic, unemotional, analytic approach, we think the approach that we’ve offered to the administration is the right way to go,” Dunford said.

Former Sen. Kelly AyotteKelly Ann AyotteOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Study group recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Overnight Defense: Pentagon chief ousts hundreds from advisory panels | Defense pick discusses Trump transition hurdles | Aircraft carrier returning home after 10-month deployment MORE (R-N.H.), another co-chair, added the question is “not whether we leave, it’s how we leave.”

Administration’s reaction: A spokesperson for the National Security Council declined to comment on the report, but a State Department spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon officials are “deeply appreciative” of the panel’s “thoughtful work” and “look forward to closely examining the recommendations contained in the comprehensive report.”

“We are still unpacking the [study group] report, but we understand that it aligns with our emphasis on supporting the ongoing peace process to end the war through a just and durable political settlement, to mobilize the regional consensus for peace, and to reaffirm a conditions-based withdrawal,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

The Pentagon did not respond directly to the report, but pointed to recent statements from administration officials that “prudent reviews of the U.S.-Taliban agreement are occurring across the interagency.”

“There is no military solution to conflict in Afghanistan,” Department of Defense (DOD) spokesperson Maj. Rob Lodewick said in a statement to The Hill. “After more than 19 years of war, the path to a lasting peace for the people of Afghanistan is paved by an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process to achieve a political settlement and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire. This is happening and the U.S. will continue to support the Afghan peace process.”

“As with all defense-related matters, DoD provides its best military advice, assessments and other requested input during such reviews, but no decisions have been made regarding any future conditions-based force level revisions,” he added.

CONGRESS GETS ORGANIZED: The 117th Congress started a month ago, but committees are just now officially organizing.

The House Armed Services Committee held its organizational meeting Wednesday morning. Afterward, committee Chairman Adam SmithDavid (Adam) Adam SmithOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Hillicon Valley: Federal cyber agency reevaluating role in countering election disinformation | Senate panel advances Biden’s Commerce secretary pick | House Armed Services panel establishes new cybersecurity panel House Armed Services panel establishes new cybersecurity subcommittee MORE (D-Wash.) announced the creation of two new subcommittees to replace the previous Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee.

One of the new subpanels will be the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems, chaired by Rep. Jim LangevinJames (Jim) R. LangevinOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Hillicon Valley: Federal cyber agency reevaluating role in countering election disinformation | Senate panel advances Biden’s Commerce secretary pick | House Armed Services panel establishes new cybersecurity panel House Armed Services panel establishes new cybersecurity subcommittee MORE (D-R.I.).

The other one will be the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, chaired by Rep. Ruben GallegoRuben GallegoOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward faces election recount calls Puerto Rico officials hopeful of progress on statehood MORE (D-Ariz.).

In the Senate: The Senate on Wednesday also finally passed an organizing resolution, officially handing committee gavels over to Democrats.

That means Sen. Jack ReedJack ReedOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Democrats offer resolution denouncing white supremacists ahead of Trump trial Biden’s SEC pick sidelined as GameStop drama unfolds MORE (D-R.I.) is officially the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“I am honored to lead this committee,” Reed said in a statement Wednesday. “I hope to match the sacrifice and commitment of our service men and women and be worthy of the trust that the people of Rhode Island have placed in me. This job requires putting the needs and security of our nation first and that is what I strive to do.”

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats also announced new committee assignments. Joining the Armed Services Committee are Sens. Jacky RosenJacklyn (Jacky) Sheryl RosenOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Senate approves waiver for Biden’s Pentagon nominee House Democrats introduce bill to invest 0 billion in STEM research and education MORE (D-Nev.) and Mark KellyMark KellyOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Ex-astronaut Mark Kelly jokes about piloting congressional subway State-level Republicans wracked by division after Trump’s loss MORE (D-Ariz.). They replace former Sen. Doug Jones (D-Ala.), who lost reelection, and Sen. Martin HeinrichMartin Trevor HeinrichOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Democrats offer resolution denouncing white supremacists ahead of Trump trial Biden Intel chief nominee Avril Haines pledges public report on QAnon threat MORE (D-N.M.), who won a spot on the Appropriations Committee.

ON TAP FOR TOMORROW

The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a closed-door briefing on the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee report at 9:30 a.m. https://bit.ly/2NZ4slb

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a business meeting to consider Linda Thomas-GreenfieldLinda Thomas-GreenfieldOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Blinken vows to confront, cooperate with China in first remarks at the State Department Biden administration reviewing China genocide designation MORE nomination to be U.S. ambassador to the U.N. at 10 a.m. https://bit.ly/3rhv9ju

Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Defense: New START extended for five years | Austin orders ‘stand down’ to tackle extremism | Panel recommends Biden delay Afghanistan withdrawal Fauci says he hopes he gets another chance to throw out Nationals first pitch after ’embarrassing’ first try CDC chief urges fans to watch Super Bowl virtually or with household MORE, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and other officials will participate in a virtual Blue Star Families/American Red Cross town hall on the COVID-19 vaccine at 3 p.m. Register at tfaforms.com/4876485 or livestream at defense.gov/live.

ICYMI

— The Hill: Top Space Force general acknowledges service’s PR problem

— The Hill: 3 National Guard members dead in Black Hawk crash in Idaho

— The Hill: Supreme Court cancels border wall, asylum policy hearings after Biden shifts

— The Hill: Burma coup poses early test for Biden foreign policy

— The Hill: US ‘disappointed’ by UN court decision on Iran case: State Department

— The Hill: Opinion: Why hypersonic weapons cannot live up to their hype

— Task and Purpose: We spoke with the Marine from this viral Inauguration Day photo with Lady Gaga

— Defense One: For Biden, tough talk on Saudi Arabia meets reality

— Washington Post: Stalking ISIS: As U.S. troops withdraw, Iraqi special forces take the lead in hunting down ragtag bands of Islamic State fighters, sleeper cells and militant financiers

Apple and Hyundai-Kia are nearing a deal for Hyundai-Kia to manufacture Apple cars at an assembly plant in Georgia, CNBC reported Wednesday. 

The “Apple Car” would be a completely autonomous electric car and would be manufactured in West Point, Ga., at a Kia plant if the deal closed, according to CNBC.

People familiar with the matter told CNBC that Apple has been working on this car for a while and hopes to have its roll out in 2024. However, Hyundai-Kia still might not be the car company Apple pairs with. 

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Apple could go with another company since the deal has not been finalized or work with Hyundai-Kia along with another company. 

Although the look of an “Apple Car” has not been released, a source provided a description of the car.

“The first Apple Cars will not be designed to have a driver,” one source told CNBC. “These will be autonomous, electric vehicles designed to operate without a driver and focused on the last mile.” 

Apple wants the car to be manufactured in North America with a company that will allow the “Apple Car” to be its own identity and not just be a car with Apple software. 

Hyundai-Kai is reportedly hoping this partnership will help their own plans to produce autonomous cars in the future. Another source said that Euisun Chung, the new chairman for the company, “has made it clear, mobility is the future of the company.”

Apple breaking into the car industry could cause Tesla to see some competition as they have been leading in self-driving cars.  

The Hill has reached out to Apple and Hyundai-Kai for comment.

Source: PWInsider.com

— Randy Orton and his wife Samantha have something extra special to celebrate this holiday season. The WWE Champion called into St. Louis’ KDSK 5 News show this morning to discuss the upcoming Tribute to the Troops special. Orton mentioned how WWE does it every year and that it’s a blast to go over to Iraq. When asked about his plans for the holidays, Orton said he was going to spend it with his family and he had just found out that his wife is expecting their first child.

— Tammy Sytch (Sunny) has removed her scathing comments about Rena Mero from her MySpace.com webpage.

Picture of Randy Orton & His Wife SAMANTHA [>>]