Navalny's Absence in Courts Amplifies Concerns
Locked up in a harsh Arctic prison approximately 250 kilometers east of Moscow, Navalny was expected to attend multiple court hearings on Monday, according to his spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh. However, two proceedings occurred without Navalny's presence, and the judge postponed the remaining hearings until they could clarify his location.
Arrested earlier in the year on charges of founding extremist groups, financing extremist activities, and several other crimes, Navalny was found guilty and sentenced to 19 years in high-security prison, with him denying all charges. Navalny had already served more than 1.5 years in a high-security prison for misdemeanors.
Navalny's supporters claim his arrest and imprisonment are politically motivated to silence his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the weekend, lawyers from his team conducted investigations in over 200 detention facilities across the country, waiting on updates about his whereabouts.
Yarmish mentioned that due to the absence of Navalny in court, they were waiting for a response.
The October City Court of the Wladimir region postponed the hearing, claiming they require clarification of Navalny's location, but such ground is not mentioned in the law, said Vyacheslav Ji, a lawyer from Navalny's team.
"Instead of promoting justice and ensuring the Federal Bureau of Prisons secures the attendance of the plaintiffs, the court postponed the hearing indefinitely," said Ji, ending his statement with the hashtag "#whereisNavalny."
Navalny's team shared a document from the Federal Penitentiary Service, stating he was not in the IK-6 prison, where he had been previously held. However, Federal Bureau of Prisons representatives indicated that there is no clarity regarding his relocation date or location.
The United Nations raised concerns on Monday, following Navalny's absence from the court sessions. The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Kasarowa, expressed alarm over the Russian authorities not releasing Navalny's whereabouts and health condition.
Kasarowa acknowledged that the scheduled hearing on Friday related to human rights violations against Navalny did not take place. The court informed the lawyers that Navalny could no longer be found in the Wladimir region and provided no additional details.
Kasarowa expressed concern over Navalny being mistreated continuously in prison since August 2021, inflicting further physical harm and posing a significant risk to his life.
Ms. Kasarowa stated that Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison on vague charges of 'extremism' on August 4, 2023, and would subsequently be relocated to a harsher prison. She warned that transporting prisoners posed additional risks to their well-being, and human rights violations might occur.
Ms. Kasarowa also mentioned that on October 13, 2023, three of Navalny's lawyers were arrested on allegations of extremism, potentially facing lengthy prison sentences. She called upon the Russian authorities to comply with international human rights obligations and release Navalny immediately.
Kasarowa also emphasized that the term 'extremism' lacks any legal basis in international law, even though it harbors justification, but it should be prosecuted and condemned.
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As per the latest information, Alexei Navalny is currently being held in the harsh climate of a prison in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district, located in the Arctic region of Russia. This location was confirmed after he went missing since early December 2024. His lawyer, Kira Yarmysh, announced on social media that he is doing well but in a highly isolated location, which is notorious for its brutal winters and remote conditions.
Navalny was transferred to this prison after serving an 19-year term in a Vladimir region prison. This transfer process is known as "etap," where prisoners travel in trains with caged compartments, restricted access to fresh air, showers, and limited food or toilet facilities.
International human rights organizations and governments have raised concerns about Navalny's safety and detention conditions. The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, expressed concerns over his location and life-threatening situation in prison. Several countries, including the US and the Council of Europe, have also called for his immediate release and highlighted the dire human rights situation in Russia, calling upon the Russian authorities to uphold their international obligations.
