IK-6, the iron grip of Melekhovo, 155 miles from the pulsing heart of Moscow. Darkness, isolation, the cruelty of silence, swallowing Alexei Navalny, Russia’s voice of opposition. A gut-wrenching pain, something sinister, slow-acting poison at work, whispered ally Ruslan Shaveddinov on Friday, a shiver of fear echoing.
Red lights flashing, sirens cutting through the air, ambulance called to the fortress that is IK-6. “His situation critical, our hearts heavy, concern clawing at us,” confided Shaveddinov on the phone, voice trembling.
“An ambulance, a sign of desperation, prison authorities, cold, unyielding, refusing hospital admission,” he added, painting a bleak picture.
Silence, unbearable silence since the ambulance vanished, no news, no hope. “Prison authorities, cloaking him in isolation, cutting him from the world,” Shaveddinov whispered.
Navalny, the 46-year-old shackled by sentences, 11-and-a-half years for fraud, contempt of court, human rights groups screaming injustice, a voice silenced.
Tension mounting, fears for Navalny’s health escalating, a rare petition from Russian lawmakers, doctors risking all, demanding better medical care, a cry in the dark.
“Our theory, a gradual murder, slow-acting poison through food,” Shaveddinov said, the chill of paranoia creeping in. “After novichok, all too plausible, 8kg vanished in two weeks, pain and no answers from the doctors.”
“Our theory, a gradual murder, slow-acting poison through food,” Shaveddinov said, the chill of paranoia creeping in. “After novichok, all too plausible, 8kg vanished in two weeks, pain and no answers from the doctors.”
Navalny, survivor of the novichok poison, the dark hand of Putin behind the 2020 attack, a voice that won’t die.
Peskov, Putin’s mouthpiece, feigning ignorance, “Kremlin not watching, a matter for the penitentiary service,” he said, cold, dismissive.
“The shizo, the punishment cell, Navalny trapped, August onwards, their aim to break him,” recounted Shaveddinov, the torment continuing. “Sleep elusive, prison food shop denied, letters a struggle, poor lighting, hope slipping.”
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International, bearing witness, “Russian prison authorities, cruel methods, unbearable existence, humiliating, dehumanising, breaking the spirit of Aleksei Navalny.”
Allies clinging to hope, maintaining a Twitter, Instagram feed, a lifeline through lawyers. Navalny’s last post, a plea to Georgia, release ex-president Saakashvili for medical treatment. A voice refusing to be silenced.
“Navalny’s last post, a plea to Georgia, release ex-president Saakashvili for medical treatment. A voice refusing to be silenced.”
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