Imprisoned Russian rival Alekséi Navalni mentioned by relatives I have no news almost three weeksHe is in a prison colony in Jarp in the Russian Arctic, his spokesman said this Monday. “We found Navalny. He is in prison colony number 3 in Jarp town,” he said. Kira Yarmish He added on the X network that his rival was “doing well” and that his lawyer had visited him this monday.
Jarp, a small town 5,000 inhabitantsis located Yamalia-Nenetsia is a remote region in northern Russia. It is located and hosts beyond the Arctic Circle. several penal colonies. Navalny, anti-corruption activist and sworn enemy of President Vladimir Putin, is serving a prison sentence 19 years in prison for “extremism”. His family and collaborators had not heard from him since that day. early decemberThis meant that it was probably transferred here from the colony in the Vladimir region. 250 kilometers from MoscowHe has been detained here until now.
Accused of “extremism”
According to the “extremism” verdict given against him, the dissident has to serve his sentence in a “special regime” colony, which is for those normally sentenced to prison, where detention conditions are harsher. the most dangerous prisoners.
“From the beginning, it was clear that the authorities wanted to isolate Aleksei, especially ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for March 2024,” Ivan Khdanov, one of his closest collaborators, reacted on X.
Transfers from one center or another in Russia may take a few weeks Train journey in stages. And the environment of the prisoners not informed throughout that period. This lack of news about Navalny has caused concern in many Western countries and the UN.