Putin’s ‘missing’ political rival Navalny not registered at prison lawyers claim

The political rival of Vladimir Putin is no longer registered in prison, according to his lawyers.

Alexei Navalny has been missing for six days and is understood to be no longer registered at Prison No 6 in Vladimir Oblast, Russia. His absence was noted after he failed to turn up for a court hearing, raising concerns about his whereabouts.

His lawyers have not been allowed to see him in prison since December 6. They claim one of his team stood outside the facility all day on December 8 eight waiting to see him, without success. Meanwhile, he has failed to attend a number of virtual hearings.

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A fortnight ago it was reported by his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh that he had become dizzy at an earlier hearing,Meduzareports. He has been in a prison colony for months after being handed a trio of prison terms.

The 47-year-old drew the ire of President Vladimir Putin after Navalny orchestrated an anti-corruption campaign against him. He was arrested in Moscow in 2021 upon his return from a trip to Germany.

He has rejected all charges against him. Now, letters to him are not being delivered, with Yarmysh saying on Friday (December 8): “He felt dizzy and lay down on the floor. Prison officials rushed to him, unfolded the bed, put Alexei on it and gave him an IV drip.

"We don’t know what caused it, but given that he’s being deprived of food, kept in a cell without ventilation and has been offered minimal outdoor time, it looks like fainting out of hunger.”

He is due to be transferred to “special security” penal colony, which has the highest security in the country’s penal system.

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