He had disappeared from the radar. Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose relatives have not heard from him for several weeks, said on social media on Tuesday (26 December) that he was "fine" after being transferred to a penal colony in the Russian Arctic.

The journey to his new place of detention, which lasted 20 days, was "quite tiring", he said on X.

"But I'm in a good frame of mind, like Santa Claus," Navalny added, referring to his "beard" that grew during the long journey as well as his new winter clothes adapted to the polar temperatures. "Anyway, don't worry about me. I am good. I'm relieved to have finally arrived."

His relatives said on Monday they had traced him to a penal colony in Kharp, in the remote region of northern Russia, Yamalo-Nenetsia. Located beyond the Arctic Circle, it is home to several penal colonies.

Read alsoAlexei Navalny's disappearance in Russia, a mystery that suits Vladimir Putin well

"A lawyer is here for you"

A charismatic anti-corruption activist and Vladimir Putin's number one enemy, Alexei Navalny, 47, is serving a 19-year prison sentence for "extremism". He was arrested in January 2021 on his return to Russia from convalescence in Germany for a poisoning he blames on the Kremlin.

The opposition leader had disappeared in early December from the penal colony in the Vladimir region – located 250 kilometres east of Moscow – where he had been held until then, which meant that he was likely to be transferred to another facility.

Alexei Navalny said he arrived at his new penal colony on Saturday evening, after a discreet journey "with such a strange itinerary" that he did not expect to be found by his relatives until mid-January.

8/9 Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm totally relieved that I've finally made it.Thanks again to everyone for your support.

And happy holidays!

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) December 26, 2023

"That's why I was surprised when the cell door opened yesterday and I was told, 'A lawyer is here for you,'" he said, adding that he was grateful for the "support" expressed.

In the West, the disappearance of the activist has provoked a concern that has not been entirely assuaged by his reappearance in a very remote region. The United States said on Monday it was "deeply concerned" about the "conditions of detention" of Alexei Navalny, demanding his release.

According to one of the opposition's close associates, Ivan Zhdanov, he is being held in "one of the northernmost and most remote settlements" in Russia, where conditions are "difficult".

With AFP

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