Alexei Navalny suffers from intense abdominal pain in detention, possible poisoning

Navalny is suffering from intense abdominal pain and cannot consume the prison food provided to him, as it exacerbates his pain. Since Monday, he has been forbidden from purchasing alternative food. “His health is not in good condition,” Yarmysh said. “We cannot rule out the hypothesis that he is being poisoned, not with a massive dose as before, but with small doses so that he does not die immediately, but suffers and his health deteriorates.”

Kremlin not monitoring Navalny’s health

When asked about allegations that Navalny could be slowly poisoned, the Kremlin said it was not monitoring Navalny’s health and that it was the responsibility of the federal penitentiary service. The penitentiary service, which has previously denied allegations that its employees mistreated Navalny and stated that he always received medical treatment when needed, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Navalny, who is serving cumulative sentences of 11 and a half years for fraud and contempt of court on charges he says were fabricated to silence him, said on Twitter on Tuesday that he had been returned to solitary confinement and forced to endure “extremely hellish” conditions.

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International concern for Navalny’s health

The German government said on Wednesday that it was very concerned about the deterioration of Navalny’s health. Reuters could not independently verify Navalny’s health condition.

In 2020, Navalny survived an apparent poisoning attempt during a flight in Siberia, with what Western laboratory tests determined to be a nerve agent. Navalny accused the Russian state of trying to kill him, which it denied.

He was treated for the poisoning in Germany but voluntarily returned to Russia in 2021, where he was arrested upon arrival and imprisoned.

Call for appropriate medical care

Yarmysh said that medications sent to Navalny’s prison by his mother were not collected by prison officials at the post office and were returned. He should receive appropriate medical care, she said.

His supporters must fight with the penitentiary authorities every time he falls ill to ensure he receives some form of treatment, she said. “He is in total isolation and we do not know what is happening to him,” she said. “I am truly terrified because no one knows what is going on.”

“Putin has no red lines,” Yarmysh said. “He is an innocent man and is in prison only because of Putin’s personal hatred.”

Russia claims he was found guilty in court and that allegations of personal hatred are unfounded.