Russia - Disappeared for weeks: Navalny reappeared
The Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny, who has been wanted for more than two weeks, has reappeared. He had been transferred to the IK-3 penal camp in Kharp in the north of Russia in the Yamal-Nenets district, Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh announced on the X news service (formerly Twitter) on Monday. "He's all right," Yarmysh said.
There had been no trace of Navalny for 20 days. His team and lawyers had launched a search operation. The new prison camp is located more than 2000 kilometers from Moscow.
One of the northernmost and most remote prison camps
"We have found Alexei!" announced his colleague Ivan Zhdanov. He is in the "Polar Wolf" penal camp, one of the northernmost and most remote colonies in the world. "The conditions there are brutal," said Zhdanov. There is also permafrost there. It is very difficult to get there; no letters are delivered to the camp. It had been clear from the outset that Moscow's power apparatus wanted to isolate the opponent of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin ahead of the presidential election on 17 March. "His whereabouts were kept secret," criticized Zhdanov.
Navalny, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison for alleged extremism, among other things, has repeatedly filed lawsuits against the prison system for violating his rights. He uses court appearances to criticize Putin' s authoritarian system. Most recently, he was no longer connected to the hearings.
In poor health
The whereabouts of the Russian president's fiercest opponent had been unknown since the beginning of December. There was also great concern for the 47-year-old because he is in poor health. Prison staff had only stated in court proceedings that Navalny was no longer in the IK-6 prison camp around 260 kilometers east of Moscow in the Vladimir region.
The Kremlin opponents around Navalny also launched the"Russia without Putin" campaign at the beginning of December, calling on voters to express their protest by voting for other candidates ahead of the presidential election. Putin is running in the vote for the fifth time, and potential competitors are considered to have no chance.
Navalny, who also survived an assassination attempt using the nerve agent Novichok in 2020, has been in prison for almost three years. He has been internationally recognized as a political prisoner.
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- Despite the Twitter announcement by Navalny's spokeswoman, concerns about his health persist, given his previous severe illness and the harsh conditions in the remote IK-3 penal camp in Kharp.
- Navalny's ongoing detention and the remote location of the prison camp have fueled criticism of Moscow's penal system and its alleged intention to isolate Navalny ahead of the presidential election on March 17.
- Ivan Zhdanov, Navalny's colleague, has called for justice in this matter, arguing that Moscow's power apparatus must not be allowed to intimidate or silence political opponents.
- Navalny's team and lawyers have continued to file lawsuits against the prison system, citing violations of his rights, and have used court appearances as platforms to criticize Putin's authoritarian system.
- In response to Navalny's detention, his supporters began the "Russia without Putin" campaign, urging citizens to vote for alternative candidates as a form of protest against Putin's fifth bid for the presidency.
- Despite Navalny's unjust detention and international recognition as a political prisoner, Putin's opponents remain undeterred, vowing to press for freedom, justice, and fair elections in Russia.
Source: www.stern.de
