Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is being moved to a prison hospital and the authorities there say his condition is “satisfactory”.
The United States on Sunday threatened Russia with “consequences” if President Vladimir Putin’s major domestic opponent — who launched a hunger strike three weeks ago — dies in jail, with Navalny’s private doctors warning at the weekend he could pass away at “any minute”.
Russia’s prison authorities — which have barred Navalny’s own medical team from visiting him — say its doctors had decided to move him to a medical facility on the premises of another penal colony outside Moscow.
The authorities insisted the anti-corruption campaigner’s condition was “satisfactory”, and said he was taking vitamin supplements as part of medical treatment.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc held the Russian authorities “responsible for the health situation of Mr Navalny” as foreign ministers from its 27 nations held virtual talks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Interior Ministry has now warned the population against holding any pro-Navalny street protests. There were thousands of arrests at such protests in January.
Navalny supporters have called for rallies on Wednesday – the day of a state-of-the-nation speech by President Putin.
“Any aggressive actions by participants in unauthorised public meetings, especially attempts to provoke clashes with law enforcement officials, will be regarded as a threat to public safety and immediately suppressed,” the ministry said.
