Russia says Navalny to be transferred to prison hospital
MOSCOW: Russia’s prison service said Monday that hungerstriking Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny would be transferred to a hospital for inmates, but deemed his condition to be “satisfactory”.
The prominent opposition leader announced the protest three weeks ago in an bid to receive proper medical attention as his health deteriorated in a prison colony outside Moscow.
He was thrown behind bars in February for more than two years on old embezzlement charges, just weeks after he returned to Moscow from Germany where he had been recuperating from a near-fatal poisoning attack.
The prison service said in a statement that a group of doctors had “made a decision to transfer A. Navalny to hospital for convicts located on the territory of Penal Colony No 3.”
“At present, A. Navalny’s medical condition is deemed to be satisfactory; he is being examined by a general practitioner every day,” the statement added.
The 44-year-old anti-corruption campaigner was sentenced earlier this year to serve out his sentence in Penal Colony No 2 outside the Russian capital and soon after began complaining of back pain and numbness in his limbs.
On March 31, Navalny announced a hunger strike to demand proper medical treatment and his allies said the prison authorities have threatened to begin force feeding him.
The prison service said in its statement that with Navalny’s consent, “he was prescribed vitamin treatment.”
Western countries have urged Russia to provide Navalny with proper medical care and to release the Kremlin critic, and warned against possible repercussions.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Monday the bloc holds Russia “responsible” for Navalny’s health as EU foreign ministers held virtual talks on soaring tensions with Moscow.
The United States has warned the Kremlin of “consequences” if President Vladimir Putin’s major domestic opponent – who is currently on hunger strike – dies in prison after doctors warned at the weekend he could pass away at “any minute”.
Fears over the health of Navalny come amid major anxieties in 27-nation European Union over a buildup of Russian troops along the border with Ukraine and a spiralling diplomatic row between Moscow and EU member state the Czech Republic.
Borrell said Navalny’s condition was “very worrisome” and repeated a call for immediate access to be granted for medical professionals he trusts.
“We make the Russian authority responsible for the health situation of Mr Navalny,” he said.