Navalny misses scheduled hearing after landing in ‘punishment cell’ for 23rd time

Update: Alexey Navalny’s associates reported that he has been sent to a “punishment cell” for 15 days. This is the 23rd time he has been sent there since his arrest in February 2021, and by the end of his current stay, he will have spent a total of 266 days there.

Associates of jailed Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny said he did not attend an appeal hearing by video link as scheduled on Tuesday.

According to Navalny’s team, a Federal Penitentiary Service employee said Navalny was brought out of his cell behind schedule and then immediately taken away because his turn to appear before the court had passed. Later, Navalny’s supporters were told there would be another attempt to dial him in to the session, but at the time of their report, this had not happened.

Additionally, Navalny’s press secretary, Kira Yarmysh, reported that since Tuesday morning, Navalny’s lawyer has not been allowed to see him. “This is alarming news. We don’t know what’s going on with Alexey or where he is now,” she added.