Russian Prison Service: Navalny Can Just Stay Asleep

The Russian Prison Service defends the way opposition leader Alexei Navalny is treated in custody.

The politician went on a hunger strike this week because he would be denied medical care, and guards keep waking him up, but authorities say everything is going according to the rules.

President Vladimir Putin’s well-known critic is being held in a prison camp some 100 kilometres from Moscow. He says he has back and leg complaints and is not receiving proper medical attention. Navalny demands access to a doctor of his choice and also complains that guards wake him up every hour.

The regional prison service calls the criticism unjustified. All prisoners are entitled to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, the service emphasizes. He adds that guards patrol at night and then also carry out checks on prisoners. That shouldn’t get in the way of their sleep. Navalny is also not treated differently from his fellow inmates, according to the authorities.

The opposition leader’s lawyers are said to have already arranged a doctor. Doctor Alexey Barinov said he is ready to go to prison. “We are waiting for a decision from the prison service.”