2023-12-23 23:38:51
The United States still worried about the disappearance of Navalny
In Washington, concern is growing around the fate of Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, whose relatives have had no news since the beginning of December, when he was incarcerated in a prison.
“We are deeply concerned that we do not know the whereabouts of Alexeï Navalny, who has been missing within the Russian prison system for almost three weeks”, declared on X the American Secretary of State, Antony BlinkenSATURDAY. “We once again call for his immediate release and an end to the relentless repression of independent voices in Russia”he added.
Supporters of the opponent, imprisoned at the beginning of 2021 after surviving an assassination attempt by poisoning which he blames on the Kremlin, have not heard from him since the beginning of the month. They fear his transfer to another prison with a stricter regime, a procedure which often takes weeks in Russia, a huge territory meshed with penitentiary establishments inherited from the Soviet era and many of which are located in reclusive regions of the country.
“Alexei should have an audience now. He didn’t show up again.”deplored Thursday Kira Iarmich, the spokesperson in exile for the anti-corruption activist. “It’s been sixteen days since we have any information on Alexei”she lamented about the opponent who is currently serving a 19-year sentence for “extremism”.
On December 11, the White House said “very concerned” by the lack of news concerning Alexeï Navalny, and several NGOs and foreign officials have also since reacted. On Monday, Mariana Katzarova, United Nations special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia, expressed alarm at the “enforced disappearance” of the leading figure of the Russian opposition.
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