Russia - Prison management remains silent on Navalny's whereabouts
Yarmysh wrote that the authorities had at least backed away from the long-standing claim that Navalny could not be connected due to problems with the power supply in the camp. According to their assumption, the guards were allowed to say on Monday that the opponent of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin was no longer in the camp in the Vladimir region east of Moscow.
There has been no sign of life from the opposition activist, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison, for a week. One of his lawyers, Alexei Tsvetkov, told Russian media that the last time he saw his client was last Tuesday. Since then, Tsvetkov has had no more information about Navalny's whereabouts. However, the lawyer did not rule out the possibility that the political prisoner had been transferred to another camp.
Navalny's wife Julija pointed out on Instagram that her husband had not been connected to the hearing in Kovrov via video on Monday. "The whereabouts of Alexei Navalny remain unknown," she wrote.
US State Department demands release
On Monday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller again called for Navalny's release and blamed the Russian government for his fate. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov therefore accused the USA of interfering in internal Russian affairs. He did not comment on Navalny's whereabouts. "We have neither the intention nor the possibility to follow the fate of prisoners and their whereabouts in the relevant places," said Peskov.
Navalny's reputation as an opposition politician in Russia is based on his revelations of corruption in the ruling class and the organization of protests. However, he has also been criticized for earlier nationalist statements. In August 2020, Navalny narrowly survived an assassination attempt using the chemical agent Novichok. The Kremlin opponent blames Putin and the FSB domestic intelligence service for the attack.
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- The allegations of corruption and criminality in Russia's higher echelons, often uncovered by Alexei Navalny, have led to numerous conflicts with the ruling government, including its leader, Vladimir Putin.
- The power supply issues at the detention center were previously used as a justification for Russia's silence on Navalny's whereabouts, but this claim was reportedly debunked by Navalny's associate, Leonid Yarmysh.
- The ongoing silence from the prison authorities and the lack of information from Navalny's lawyer, Alexei Tsvetkov, has raised concerns about potential human rights violations, with US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller demanding Navalny's immediate release.
- In response to the US's call for justice, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the USA of interfering in internal Russian affairs, echoing the Russian government's long-standing stance on external criticism.
- The situation has further exacerbated tensions between Russia and the West, with Navalny's high-profile detention and alleged mistreatment being widely scrutinized by international human rights organizations.
- Regardless of the political complexities, Navalny's bravery in standing against corruption and defending human rights has left an indelible mark on Russia's political landscape – one that could potentially shape the country's future.
Source: www.stern.de
