Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has finally spoken out after his sudden and mysterious disappearance several weeks ago. His team announced that he has been located at a penal colony in Siberia.
Navalny, a fierce critic of the Kremlin, shared a message via his aides on social media expressing “relief” after surviving what he said was a 20-day prison transfer that covered thousands of miles. He described his transportation as exhausting but maintained a good mood throughout.
According to CNN’s calculations, Navalny covered more than 3,700 miles in the 20 days his journey took, an average of 185 miles a day. His disappearance had sparked immediate concerns for his well-being, especially since it came just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he will run for re-election in March next year.
Navalny is known as the best-known opposition politician in Russia and has used his platform to expose alleged corruption in the Kremlin and Russian business circles. Despite being behind bars, his Instagram and Twitter accounts have continued to attack Putin and the Russian government with messages transmitted via his team.
In his latest posts, Navalny said he had met with his lawyer, thanked supporters for their concern, and assured everyone that he was doing well. His spokesperson also confirmed that Navalny’s health was no worse than prior to his transfer, although the process was “very physically challenging.”
Navalny’s posts on Tuesday suggest he remains in solitary confinement, though he did mention that he went for an outdoor walk in a yard. His supporters claim that his arrest and incarceration are politically motivated attempts to stifle his criticism of Putin.
Navalny’s imprisonment comes after he was sentenced to 19 years in prison in August on charges of creating an extremist community, financing extremist activities, and other crimes. He was already serving a separate sentence of 11-and-a-half years in a maximum security facility on fraud and other charges he denies.
Upon news of Navalny’s reappearance, there has been a renewed focus on the treatment and wellbeing of political prisoners in Russia, with many calling for his release and expressing concern for his safety.