Alexei Navalny: Russian opposition leader 'removed from penal colony'

Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned Russian opposition leader, has been relocated from the penal colony where he was serving his sentence, and his current whereabouts are unknown, according to his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh. Officials at the Melekhovo colony stated that Navalny is no longer registered there. Concerns have been raised about his disappearance, especially as his aides expected him to be transferred to a stricter regime jail after an extension of his prison sentence. The move is believed to be connected to recent announcements about elections in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared his intention to stand for re-election in March, and Navalny’s associates suspect a link between his disappearance and the political developments. Navalny was previously found guilty in August of founding and funding an extremist organization, a charge he denies, resulting in an additional 19 years of imprisonment. The charges against him are widely perceived as politically motivated.

Navalny’s associates, who had no news of him for six days, expressed concern over his absence from recent court appearances. He was expected to continue his incarceration in a “special regime colony,” typically reserved for dangerous criminals and reoffenders. Lawyers outside Melekhovo, where Navalny was previously held, were informed that he was not registered in either that location or a nearby colony. Navalny’s aides view this as direct political control from the Kremlin.

As a prominent figure exposing corruption within Russian power, Navalny has faced multiple challenges, including being poisoned in 2020 with a nerve agent. After recovering, he returned to Russia in 2021 and was promptly arrested. His charismatic leadership has played a key role in mobilizing opposition and anti-government protests across the country.