Putin's biggest opponent, the dissident Alexei Navalny, on screen during a prison hearing
As if two wars weren't enough to pit Russia and the United States, allied on opposite fronts in Ukraine and in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparks are now flying over the Alexei Navalny case. President Vladimir Putin's political opponent – who just ran in the 2024 presidential election and has effectively mortgaged the Kremlin until at least 2030 – is disappeared from the IK-6 penal colony in Melekhovo. Authorities refused to say where he was for days. Untraceable for a week, until this evening it became known that he was transferred to Moscow in connection with a new criminal case against him, and on the first of this month a charge of vandalism was brought against him, the Telegram channel Baza admitted about good contacts security authorities, but nevertheless points out that this is not officially confirmed information. Moscow would not be the final destination of the dissident, who has not been heard from for seven days. Just yesterday, the management of the prison in the Vladimir region where he was imprisoned admitted that Navalny's name was no longer on the list of prisoners.
“Navalny should not have been arrested and must be released immediately,” thundered US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby yesterdayand explains that the American embassy in Moscow is working to collect as much information as possible.
Pitched today Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov's response: “It is a question relating to a prisoner who was found guilty.” violated and served his sentence. Therefore, we consider any interference by anyone, including the United States of America, to be unacceptable and impossible.”
The European Union, through High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell, described the news of Navalny's disappearance for seven days as “extremely worrying”. Russia's political leadership is responsible for and must take responsibility for his safety and health in prison. The EU reiterates its call for his immediate and unconditional release from political detention».
The hypothesis: taken to a tougher prison, with no outside contact
Until this evening, the dissident's associates had reported that they had no idea where Putin's number one rival was. Officials at the prison more than 200 kilometers from Moscow “have admitted that inmate Navalny is no longer on their list,” but “they refuse to say where he has been transferred,” spokeswoman Kyra Yarmish charges on X.
After In August he was given a 19-year prison sentence for “extremism,” which is considered politically motivated, the opponent denounced ongoing abuses. There is fear for his health and also for his safety. That's what the speaker said Last week he felt sick in his cell: “He became dizzy and lay down on the floor.” “Given the fact that he was deprived of food, kept in a cell without ventilation, and spent minimal time outdoors, it appears that he passed out from hunger has become.”
The lawyers have not been able to speak to the dissident since December 6th. A situation accompanied by a hail of criminal proceedings. The latest accusation would be “vandalism”. In October, three of the lawyers were arrested on charges of “extremism.”
Recently, the “A Russia without Putin” initiative was launched for the March vote
Navalny's arrest dates back to January 2021, when he had just returned to Moscow from Berlin, where he had been treated for a poisoning that had sparked fears for his life.
Even from prison, the opponent never stopped criticizing the government Last week, ahead of the March presidential election, he launched the program “Russia without Putin,” urging people to vote for any other candidate. According to Navalny's right-hand man Leonid Volkov, it would be no coincidence that this situation occurred on the eve of the vote: “For Putin it is no secret who his main opponent is in these “elections” and he wants to ensure that the vote of Navalny is not heard,” he commented.