Lawyers for Alexey Navalny said Monday they have lost contact with the jailed Russian opposition leader, who was believed to be imprisoned in a penal colony about 150 miles east of Moscow, and his whereabouts are unknown.
In August, Alexey Navalny was sentenced to 19 years in prison, facing charges including creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities, and various other crimes. Already serving an 11-and-a-half-year sentence in a maximum-security facility on fraud charges he denies, Navalny’s supporters contend that his arrest and imprisonment are politically motivated to suppress his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Concerns have arisen as Navalny’s whereabouts have become uncertain. Lawyers attempting to gain access to two penal colonies where Navalny was believed to be held received no response, according to spokesperson Kira Yarmysh on Monday. Navalny, who has faced serious health issues, has been missing for six days, and the last known location was the IK-6 penal colony east of Moscow.
The White House expressed deep concern about Navalny’s disappearance, emphasizing that he should be released immediately. John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, stated that Navalny should never have been jailed and that efforts would be made through the embassy in Moscow to gather more information. the jailed Russian opposition
Scheduled to appear in court via video link on Monday, Navalny was unable to participate due to an alleged electricity issue in the prison, as reported by prison authorities. Yarmysh expressed worry about Navalny’s recent health problems, citing an incident in which he felt dizzy and had to receive medical attention in his cell.