Navalny Transferred To Hospital After Three Weeks On Hunger Strike

The Russian prison services decided, Monday April 19, to transfer to a hospital for prisoners the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, who began a hunger strike for about three weeks, while judging his state of health “satisfactory”.

“A committee of doctors (…) has decided to transfer Alexey Navalny to a hospital unit for convicts which is located on the territory of penal colony number 3 of the Vladimir region”, indicated the prison service of this region in a statement. “Alexeï Navalny’s state of health is currently considered satisfactory, he is examined daily by a medical therapist,” he added.

According to the same source, “with the patient’s agreement, he was prescribed vitamin therapy.” The state of health of the opponent, who according to his supporters risks serious heart and kidney problems that can lead to death, is all the more worrying as he survived a poisoning by a neurotoxic substance.

Moscow under pressure from the international community

Alexeï Navalny, who announced that he had stopped eating on March 31 to denounce his treatment in prison and in particular the fact that he was not treated for severe back pain, had indicated on social networks that he was not consuming only water. According to him, he has also been threatened with force-feeding, an option the Russian authorities have if they refuse to feed a prisoner.

Monday’s announcements come as supporters of Alexei Navalny estimated this weekend that the opponent was in danger of dying at any time. The Europeans, “very worried” for the health of the Russian opponent, demanded that Alexeï Navalny be hospitalized.

Germany and France have insisted on “adequate medical treatment” by doctors who “have the confidence” of Alexei Navalny and demanded his immediate release. Washington warned on Sunday that there would be “consequences” for Moscow if Alexei Navalny were to die.