Navalny refused to leave the cell, he was forcibly taken to the investigator

Opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who is serving time in a high-security colony in the Vladimir region, refused to leave his cell on Monday. He had to remotely participate in the court session and investigative actions. According to Navalny’s associate Ivan Zhdanov, all writing utensils were left in the politician’s cell, and he refused to leave the premises as a sign of protest. After that, according to Zhdanov, he was brought to the investigator by force.

“Security officers in helmets entered the cell and, using force, dragged him to the investigator,” Zhdanov wrote.

The information was confirmed by Navalny’s new lawyer, Leonid Soloviev. He added that the politician’s writing accessories were taken during “regime events” and that this is not the first time this has happened.

On Monday, another court hearing was scheduled for one of Navalny’s lawsuits against the administration of the IK-6 colony. Usually, the oppositionist participates in court sessions from the colony via video link. However, this time Navalny did not appear on the screen, the meeting was postponed.

• On October 13, three of Navalny’s lawyers – Vadym Kobzev, Igor Sergunyn and Aleksey Liptser – were arrested on suspicion of participating in an extremist community. According to the investigation, the lawyers, visiting the politician in the colony, “ensured the regular transfer of information between the leaders, members of the extremist community and Navalny.” Another lawyer of Navalny, Alexander Fedulov, announced on October 16 that he had left Russia. Lawyer Olga Mykhaylova, who also worked on Navalny’s case, left Russia earlier. Navalny’s interests are now represented by Leonid Soloviev.
• Alexey Navalny is serving a 9-year term on charges of fraud in a colony in the Vladimir region. At the beginning of August, the Moscow City Court handed down a new sentence to him – 19 years in a special regime colony on the charge of creating an extremist community. Navalny calls his persecution political, the same opinion is held by human rights defenders and representatives of Western countries.