Material confirmation in about 3 weeks… Navalny’s side calls Igam Prison “harsh”
The whereabouts of Russian opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin’s political enemy Alexei Navalny, who disappeared after being imprisoned, have been confirmed. He is said to have been transferred to a prison roll in the Siberian region.
According to the BBC and CNN on the 25th (local time), Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh announced through social media X (formerly Twitter) that day, “We have found Alexei Navalny.”
Yarmysh said that Navalny “is currently in Harp IK-3 (3rd prison) in the Yaman-Nenets Autonomous Region.”
Navalny’s lawyer interviewed him this morning. Navalny is “doing well,” the lawyer said.
It has been about three weeks since the 6th that Navalny’s whereabouts were confirmed. Until this time, Navalny had been imprisoned in Melekovo Prison, about 235 km east of Moscow.
Navalny has been serving a sentence of 11 years and 6 months in prison on charges of fraud and other charges since 2021. Last August, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison on other charges.
In particular, he attracted attention when he disappeared right before President Putin formalized his presidential candidacy in March of next year. President Putin announced his candidacy for president on the 8th. Because Navalny disappeared, he was unable to attend the trial scheduled to be held on the 11th and 18th.
The conditions in the prison where Navalny was transferred are believed to be harsher than before. This prison is also nicknamed the ‘Polar Wolf’ camp.
Ivan Zhdanov, head of the Navalny Anti-Corruption Foundation, pointed out to X that IK-3 is “one of the northernmost and most remote enclaves.” He said the environment here was “harsh” and that there was not even a letter delivery system. Even Navalny’s lawyer said he was not allowed to enter the prison “immediately.”
Zhdanov argued that Navalny’s transfer showed how Russia “treats political prisoners and (to what extent) they try to isolate and oppress them.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.