Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been in prison since January 2021, is seriously ill. His wife appeals to the prison staff to supply him with medicines, as her husband’s life is in danger.
Navalny claimed on social media this week that authorities deliberately infected him. He has a high fever and a cough. According to his allies, there is a flu outbreak in the prison.
His wife posted a message on Instagram demanding medicine for him. His followers also state that Navalny looks bad. “They are slowly killing him,” one of them told the news agency Reuters.
The German government has also insisted that Navalny receive medical assistance. According to Berlin, he was convicted in a political trial and needs urgent medical attention.
A hearing continued on Wednesday, while Navalny had asked for an extension due to his illness. The outcome of the process is unknown.
Navalny also said last month that his health was deteriorating. He complained of back pain that got worse and stated that he was being injected with unknown drugs.
Navalny was sentenced to nine years in prison for embezzling donations
The 46-year-old Navalny fought for years against corruption and abuse of power, and therefore forms an important opposition to the Kremlin. Although he is in a maximum security prison, Navalny often speaks out. For example, he immediately condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Navalny is serving, among other things, nine years in prison for embezzling donations to his organizations, which have been virtually dismantled. He would have used the money for private expenses and for a campaign to become president.
The opposition leader was arrested in January 2021 at the airport in Moscow. He then returned from Berlin, where he had been treated for poisoning. He was conditionally released, but his stay abroad violated the conditions, according to the Russian judiciary.
