Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Navalny located in penal colony 3 weeks after contact lost

32

Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who had been missing for nearly three weeks, was finally located by his associates on Monday. Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. His lawyers had been unable to reach him since December 6.

According to his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, Navalny has been located in a prison colony in the town of Kharp, situated in the Yamalo-Nenets region, approximately 1,900 kilometers (1,200 miles) northeast of Moscow. Despite the challenging conditions in this remote area, Yarmysh reported that Navalny is “fine, at least as much as possible after such a long stage,” and he had a visit from a lawyer.

The town of Kharp is known for its severe winters and is located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Vorkuta, which was notorious for its coal mines during the Soviet Gulag prison-camp era. It is incredibly isolated, making it nearly impossible for outsiders to access the colony or send letters to those inside.

Transfers within Russia’s prison system are typically conducted in secrecy, and inmates can vanish from contact for extended periods. Navalny’s team was particularly concerned about his disappearance because he had been reported as ill and allegedly denied food while being kept in an unventilated cell.

Yarmysh suggested that Navalny’s transfer to this remote colony was connected to Russia’s upcoming presidential election in March. Although Putin’s reelection appears certain due to his strong control over the country’s political landscape and a crackdown on dissent, Navalny’s supporters and other critics hope to use the campaign to diminish public support for Putin and his actions in Ukraine.

“They deliberately sent him to this particular colony precisely to isolate Alexei as much as possible, so as not to give him any opportunity to communicate with the outside world,” Yarmysh explained. “This is all happening because Alexei, despite being in prison, remains the main opponent of Vladimir Putin… It’s not surprising that they transferred him to another colony at this time to prevent him from interfering with Putin’s campaign.”

Navalny has been incarcerated in Russia since January 2021, following his return to Moscow after recovering in Germany from nerve agent poisoning that he attributed to the Kremlin. Prior to his arrest, he had been campaigning against official corruption and organizing significant anti-Kremlin protests. Despite facing multiple prison terms and months of isolation, Navalny has consistently maintained that the charges against him are politically motivated.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Navalny’s Location

More about Navalny’s Location

• Alexei Navalny’s Location: Russian Opposition Leader Found in Remote Prison Colony
• Russian Politics: The Ongoing Case of Alexei Navalny
• Navalny’s Imprisonment and Charges: Background Information
• Russian Presidential Election: Implications of Navalny’s Isolation
• Alexei Navalny’s Activism and Opposition to Kremlin