“We’re deeply involved concerning the whereabouts of Alexei Navalny, who has been lacking within the Russian jail system for nearly three weeks,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned on Community X (previously Twitter).
“We as soon as once more name for his quick launch and an finish to the continuing repression of impartial voices in Russia.”
On Monday, UN human rights knowledgeable Maryana Katsarova additionally expressed concern about Navalny’s “compelled disappearance.”
In accordance with Navalny’s press secretary Kira Yarmysh, the politician, based on the Federal Penitentiary Service, was taken from the colony to an unknown location on December 11, however his legal professionals weren’t allowed to fulfill with him since December 6. He was not related to the court docket hearings by way of video hyperlink, allegedly because of an “electrical accident” in IK-6.
The lack of expertise about Navalny’s whereabouts may imply he has been moved to a harsher jail, following a court docket choice earlier this 12 months.
The switch course of could take a number of weeks, since in Russia prisoners are normally transported by rail.
Navalny’s group mentioned his doable switch to a different jail was particularly timed to coincide with the anticipated re-election of President Vladimir Putin.
On December 16, the US State Division mentioned it was deeply involved concerning the well being of jailed Russian opposition chief and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny after his legal professionals mentioned they’d not seen their shopper in additional than every week.
“We’ve got advised the Russian authorities that they’re answerable for what occurs to Mr. Navalny, and they are going to be held accountable by the worldwide group,” a State Division spokesman advised Axios.
Alexei Navalny, 47, was barred from operating within the 2018 election after a trumped-up fraud cost that his allies mentioned was politically motivated. On August 4, 2023, the Moscow Metropolis Courtroom sentenced Navalny to 19 years in a particular regime colony on fees of making and financing an extremist group.