Putin Critic Navalny Found in Siberian Penal Colony After Disappearance

Russian Activist Aleksey Navalny
Missing While Imprisoned
Found Serving Sentence in Siberia
His disappearance coincides with Putin’s announcement to run for the March elections

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was previously reported missing while in prison. He has now been confirmed to be incarcerated in Siberia.

In a CNN report dated the 25th, Kira Yarmysh, the spokesperson for Navalny, announced through a statement on X that they had located Navalny. He is detained in IK-3 in Kharp, within the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Yarmysh further informed that Navalny’s lawyer had visited him and confirmed that Navalny was in good condition.

On the 11th, Navalny’s lawyer reported, “We lost contact with Navalny.” The last meeting with the spokesperson was on the 6th. At that time, Navalny was imprisoned in Prison No. 6 in Melekov, about 235 km (146 miles) east of Moscow.

Navalny has been serving a total of more than 30 years in prison on charges of extremist activities and fraud.

The timing of Navalny’s disappearance coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official announcement to run for the presidential election next March.

Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said, “The prison where Navalny is currently incarcerated is one of the most remote places in the north.” He added, “It is difficult to get there, and the postal system is poorly equipped.” He further claimed, “It is clear that the Russian authorities wanted to isolate him ahead of the elections from the beginning.”

By. Ah Hyun Jeon