On March 31, opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who is currently serving a term in the IK-2 colony in the Vladimir region, went on a hunger strike. This is due to the fact that Navalny, despite numerous requests of his own, as well as the demands of his family and colleagues, isn’t allowed an independent doctor.
Cultural figures, journalists, politicians, and professors from all over the world began to observe the hunger strike together with Navalny. For example, the survivors of Beslan went on a hunger strike in solidarity with Alexey.
Here is how the press secretary of the president Dmitry Peskov commented on the situation with Navalny:
“We just no longer have the opportunity to comment at all on this situation, this citizen, this convict. And we will not do this, because we don’t have information, we don’t receive it, all questions should be addressed to the Federal Penitentiary Service, if there are any complaints or any doubts about compliance with the law. To the prosecutor’s office, which is engaged in ensuring the rule of law, including within the framework of the Federal Penitentiary Service.”
Despite the fact, that Peskov redirected the appeals of journalists with a request to provide Navalny with medical assistance to the Federal Penitentiary Service, on April 19 it became known that employees of the Federal Service were not going to visit the convict:
“Well, I will come, I will see a sick, unhealthy, emaciated person – and what? It smells like cheap PR. We already know what’s going on there. We’re not going to do anything yet.”— said the head of the HRC.
The Federal Penitentiary Service prescribed Navalny vitamin therapy. Also, he was transferred from IK-2 to the hospital for prisoners of another colony.
US President Joseph Biden expressed his position in the current situation with the opposition leader:
“This is absolutely, absolutely unfair, completely unacceptable,” — the AFP news agency reported.
JK Rowling, Benedict Cumberbatch, Patrick Suskind, Vanessa Redgrave and more than 70 world celebrities have written a letter to the President of the Russian Federation with a request to release the politician Alexei Navalny and provide independent medical care.
“We appeal to you, Mr. President, to ensure that Navalny immediately receives the competent medical advice and treatment that he urgently needs, and to which he is entitled, just like any Russian citizen. The president-elect of Russia, and the guarantor of the law, you must ensure its compliance, “ — the letter says.
Due to the fact that Alexei Navalny is getting worse every day, his headquarters across the country announced mass protests that will be held on April 21.
The authorities of Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities didn’t coordinate the rallies, and recognized them as unauthorized.
The main condition for holding rallies across the country at Navalny’s headquarters was to gather 500 thousand people who are ready to take to the streets.
But, since Navalny and his associates consider Alexey’s condition critical, the protest action will take place on April 21.
