The condition of politician Alexei Navalny, who is being held in Russia, is good, according to prison authorities, but has been transferred to a hospital in a correctional facility. Navalny has been on hunger strike since the end of March and his health is deteriorating.
Navalny’s supporters reported last weekend that a politician could die at any time if he does not receive proper care. His kidneys will not function properly, causing him to have too much potassium in his body, among other things. This excess of potassium can lead, for example, to a heart attack.
The politician also complained of a long time ago of severe back pain and numbness in his right leg and requested treatment by his medical team, but the prison refused his request.
He went on a hunger strike for three weeks to demand better care. According to his wife Yulia, he has already lost more than 9 kilograms.
Lawyers say the camp’s medical facilities are poor
Earlier this month, Navalny had yet to be taken to the prison infirmary due to the persistent cough and high temperature. Navalny’s lawyers, who visit him regularly, say the camp’s medical facilities are poor and that only one nurse works at the clinic.
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden described Navalny’s position as “totally unfair and totally inappropriate.” More than 70 well-known artists and writers, including actor Jude Law and author JK Rowling, have written to Russian President Vladimir Putin to grant Navalny access to medical assistance.
Navalny was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in February
Navalny, 44, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in February for violating the terms of a previous fraud conviction. He was arrested in January after his return from Germany. In Germany he was recovering from poisoning with the very dangerous nerve gas novichok.
The opposition leader accuses the Russian president of ordering the attack. Putin denies this.
