Alexey Navalny Transferred to Arctic Penal Colony Amidst Political Tensions

World Updated on: December 25, 2023 / 8:16 PM EST / CBS/AFP Alexey Navalny found in Siberian prison Alexey Navalny found in Siberian prison, attorneys say 00:32 Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, whose whereabouts were not known for over two weeks , has been moved to a penal colony in the Arctic, allies said

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Alexey Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader, has been moved to a penal colony in the Arctic, confirmed by his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh. Navalny, jailed in 2021 and recently missing for over two weeks, is now in the IK-3 settlement of Kharp in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. His lawyer confirmed that Navalny is in good condition despite the harsh environment of the permafrost zone and limited outside contact.

This move to one of Russia’s most remote colonies comes as the country prepares for a presidential election in March, with Vladimir Putin expected to secure a fifth term. The timing of Navalny’s transfer, coinciding with the launch of the ‘Russia without Putin’ campaign by his team, is seen as a deliberate act of political isolation by the Kremlin. Leonid Volkov, Navalny’s chief of staff, emphasized the political motives behind this, urging people to become Navalny’s voice in response.

The U.S. State Department has expressed deep concern for Navalny’s wellbeing and condemned Russia’s targeting of him and other political prisoners. Moscow’s intensifying clampdown on opposition figures and political dissent has been more pronounced since the military action in Ukraine in 2022. The U.S. continues to advocate for the release of all unjustly detained individuals in Russia.

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