Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader, has been located at a penal colony in the Arctic, ending over two weeks of uncertainty regarding his whereabouts. His spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, confirmed that Navalny is now in the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, situated in the Yamal-Nenets region, approximately 1,900 kilometers northeast of Moscow. This update comes after a period during which Navalny’s exact location was unknown following speculation of a prison transfer.
Navalny’s lawyer managed to visit him recently, and according to Yarmysh, Navalny is doing well. The IK-3 penal colony, also known as the “Polar Wolf” colony, is noted for its harsh conditions, particularly during winter when temperatures can plummet to around minus 28 degrees Celsius. Located about 60 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, the penal colony is recognized as one of the toughest in Russia, housing inmates convicted of grave crimes.
This transfer to a more isolated and severe penal colony comes just three months before the presidential election in Russia, in which President Vladimir Putin is expected to secure a fifth term. Navalny’s relocation to this remote facility is seen by his supporters as an attempt to further isolate him from the public and the political sphere, especially in the context of the upcoming election.
Navalny has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin, organizing anti-corruption campaigns and major anti-Kremlin protests. He has been behind bars since January 2021 after returning to Moscow from Germany, where he had been recovering from a nerve agent poisoning that he attributes to the Kremlin. Navalny has received multiple prison sentences and has spent months in isolation for alleged minor infractions. He has consistently rejected all charges against him as politically motivated.
