Washington:
The United States on Monday welcomed reports that jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny had been located, but remained “deeply concerned” for his well-being, the US State Department said, calling for his immediate release.
The Neem
Navalny has been tracked down in a penal colony north of the Arctic Circle, his spokeswoman said on Monday, after supporters lost contact with him for more than two weeks.
Navalny's allies had been preparing for his expected transfer to a “special regime” colony, the toughest degree in Russia's prison system, and had previously said he had not been seen by his lawyers since December 6, raising alarm about his fate .
Key quotes
“We welcome reports that Mr Navalny has been located. However, we remain deeply concerned about the well-being of Mr. Navalny and the conditions of his unjust detention,” a US State Department spokesperson said on Monday.
“We have made it clear to the Russian government that they are responsible for what happens to Mr. Navalny while he is in custody.”
The Foreign Ministry called for Navalny's immediate release and accused Russia of suppressing independent voices in the country. Russia denies carrying out such a crackdown.
Background
Navalny, 47, was tracked to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets region, about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) northeast of Moscow, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said. Navalny's new home, known as the 'Polar Wolf' colony, is considered one of the toughest prisons in Russia.
Russia says Navalny is a convicted criminal. He denies all charges for which he has been convicted and labels the Russian legal system as highly corrupt.
His supporters see him as a future leader of Russia, while Russian authorities call him and his supporters extremists with ties to the CIA intelligence service, which they say is trying to destabilize Russia.
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