Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) mentioned in a press release Monday that the opposition chief had been moved to the hospital, which focuses on “dynamic” remark of sufferers. The hospital is situated on the “territory” of one other penal colony, within the Vladimir area.
The assertion mentioned that Navalny was in “satisfactory” situation and is being examined by a physician day by day. With Navalny’s consent, he has been prescribed “vitamin therapy,” the penitentiary service added.
Navalny’s supporters say that his medical situation is quickly deteriorating. His press secretary mentioned over the weekend that Navalny was “dying” and his medical doctors mentioned medical checks confirmed he was at rising threat of renal failure and coronary heart issues. CNN is unable to independently confirm the state of Navalny’s health.
His supporters additionally criticized the selection of jail hospital that Navalny was moved to. Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), instructed CNN that “it’s a transfer to the same torture colony — only this is where seriously ill patients are transferred.”
“This should be understood as the fact that Navalny’s condition has worsened. And it worsened so much that even the torturer admits it,” Zhdanov added in a tweet.
The transfer comes as worldwide concern round Navalny’s health builds, with some nations condemning Russian authorities.
On Sunday, United States nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned the Biden administration was weighing choices to punish Russia if Navalny dies in state custody.
“We have communicated to the Russian government that what happens to Mr. Navalny in their custody is their responsibility and they will be held accountable by the international community,” Sullivan instructed CNN. “In terms of the specific measures that we would take, we are looking at a variety of different costs that we would impose and I’m not going to telegraph that publicly at this point.”
“But we have communicated that there will be consequences if Mr. Navalny dies.”
The European Union has known as on Russia to grant Navalny “immediate access” to a medical skilled “he trusts.”
“The European Union is deeply concerned about reports that the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s health in the penal colony continues to deteriorate even further. We call on the Russian authorities to grant him immediate access to medical professionals he trusts,” the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell mentioned in a press release Sunday.
On Monday, Navalny adviser and former deputy vitality minister Vladimir Milov mentioned he welcomed the “solidarity shown by the international community,” however mentioned that the response up to now has been “fairly slow.”
“We’re facing a situation where Alexey could die by the minute,” Milov instructed CNN, noting that Navalny’s medical checks, which have been made public final week, have been “absolutely disastrous,” and that medical doctors concern for his life.
“This sort of muted reaction isn’t something we expected, we expected stronger action on the part of international leaders regarding that,” Milov mentioned.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov instructed reporters on Monday that “frankly … the overwhelming majority of those who signed this letter have no information at all about whom and what this is all about.”
Asked how the Kremlin perceives warnings from US officers that Russia will face repercussions if Navalny dies, Peskov mentioned: “We in no way perceive such statements, which are voiced by representatives of other states. The state of health of convicts on the territory of the Russian Federation cannot and should not be a topic of their interests.”
Rising tensions
The escalating scenario has led Navalny’s allies to announce rallies throughout Russia on April 21 in assist of him.
Russia’s Interior Ministry has warned folks to “refrain from participating in unauthorized actions,” citing coronavirus restrictions.
The ministry mentioned in a Monday assertion that legislation enforcement businesses won’t enable residents “to destabilize the situation and will take all necessary measures to maintain law and order in the regions of the country.”
“Any aggressive actions of participants of unauthorized public events, and even attempts to provoke clashes with law enforcement officers, will be regarded as a threat to public safety and [be] immediately stopped,” it mentioned.
Navalny was despatched to jail after a Moscow court docket on February 2 changed his suspended sentence with jail time due to violations of his probation.
He was arrested when he returned to Moscow from Germany the place he had been recovering from poisoning with a nerve agent. Navalny blames the Russian safety companies for putting Novichok in his underpants and the US and European Union largely agree and have sanctioned Russian officers for his or her involvement.
Navalny was despatched to penal colony No. 2 in Pokrov in mid-March.
CNN’s Kara Fox and Arnaud Siad contributed to this report.