Navalny sent to prison hospital as health fails

The jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been transferred to a prison hospital after warnings that he is close to death. Navalny, 44, has been on hunger strike for 20 days after he was refused access to a civilian doctor for severe pain in his back and numbness in his arms and legs. Blood tests provided by his family indicate dangerous levels of potassium that could cause heart or kidney failure, independent doctors say. Alexei Liptser, a lawyer who was allowed to visit Navalny yesterday for about 15 minutes, said his health was ‘‘only getting worse’’, but that he was determined to continue his hunger strike. Navalny’s supporters plan to stage nationwide protests tomorrow to draw attention to his plight.