Alexei Navalny: Putin's top critic moved to black site, feared to be in mortal danger

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been reportedly removed from the penal colony, where he was serving his sentence, and has likely been moved to a black site, leaving his current whereabouts unknown. 

His spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, conveyed on social media that officials at the Melekhovo colony confirmed he was no longer registered there. The White House expressed deep concern over the reports. 

Navalny's associates anticipated his transfer to a stricter regime jail following the extension of his prison sentence, linking his disappearance to recent election-related announcements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration of intention to seek re-election next March adds a political dimension to Navalny's situation. In August, Navalny received an additional 19 years in prison on charges of founding and funding an extremist organisation, despite denying the allegations. 

His prior sentence included nine years for parole violations, fraud, and contempt of court, widely considered politically motivated. The prospect of continued incarceration in a special regime colony, typically reserved for dangerous criminals, intensifies concerns.

Navalny's sudden absence from recent court appearances, attributed by prison authorities to technical problems, raises suspicions. His aide, Leonid Volkov, alleges Kremlin-led political control, aiming to stifle Navalny's voice in the upcoming elections. 

Navalny, known for exposing corruption within Russian power circles, faced a poisoning incident in 2020 attributed to Russia's internal security service, the FSB. Despite warnings, he returned to Russia in 2021 and was promptly arrested, further escalating tensions surrounding his activism and opposition to the Kremlin.