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Alexei Navalny (46), who was poisoned by the Russian secret service, is not only the most famous political prisoner in the world, he has also recently become a Hollywood star. Canadian director Daniel Roher’s (30) film “Navalny” was named Best Documentary Feature at the 95th Academy Awards on March 13. “I would like to dedicate this award to Alexei Navalny and all political prisoners in the world,” Roher said in his acceptance speech.
The Putin critic was poisoned on August 20, 2020 with the nerve agent Novichok – presumably by applying it to his underwear. While on the plane from Tomsk to Moscow, Navalny collapsed and the pilot crash-landed. The then German Chancellor Angela Merkel (68) made an effort to ensure that Navalny was taken care of in Berlin. When he regained his strength, he flew back to his homeland, where he was immediately arrested and sentenced to nine years in a prison camp.
pressure and torture
Since then, Navalny has been experiencing hell in the prison camp about 200 kilometers east of Moscow. So says Vladimir Ashurkov (51), good friend of Navalny and board member of his anti-corruption foundation, in a video call with a view. Ashurkov: “Pressure and torture are the order of the day in Russian prisons.”
Since January, Navalny has lived largely in solitary confinement in a cell measuring only three by two metres. “He is still feeling the effects of the poisoning,” Ashurkov reports. During his detention, he was brought together with people infected with Covid and tuberculosis. Ashurkov is convinced that this was done on purpose to infect him.
sewing gloves
In the meantime, however, he is not doing badly given the circumstances. “As an educational measure, he has to sew for hours — work gloves included,” says Ashurkov. He last saw his friend in 2020. Since then, they have been in contact through a messaging system, which is censored by prison authorities.
Aside from his lawyer, Navalny cannot be visited in solitary confinement. Not even his close relatives have access, his wife Julia Navalnaja (46) said in an interview with Spiegel. She called him a year ago. And she complains about the lack of health care. “He is in constant danger because he is in the hands of those who tried to kill him with poison.”
Several Russian oligarchs and people close to the Kremlin have mysteriously died in recent weeks. There were reports of a Putin confidante falling from the 16th floor, alleged suicides and a toad poison attack. Ashurkov does not want to comment on these matters. “I don’t want to speculate,” he says. “But there is no doubt that Russian security systems can carry out assassinations in Russia and other parts of the world.”
Like a Greek hero
Ashurkov has lived in London since 2014 with his wife and three school-aged children, where he was granted political asylum. He fled Russia after Russian authorities indicted him in 2013 for allegedly misusing funds for Navalny’s mayoral campaign. “This accusation was clearly politically motivated. Neither donors nor Navalny herself found abuse,’ says Ashurkov.
Ashurkov adores his famous friend. «He was poisoned by a bloodthirsty tyrant, and yet he returned to Russia. To me he is a hero like from the Greek sagas. » The documentary film, which won an Oscar, ensures that Navalny’s fate remains. “And it also reduces the chance that Putin will take out my friend,” Ashurkov says hopefully.
Fleeing to the UK in 2014, Ashurkov was expected to be there for several months. “Unfortunately, it’s gotten much longer now,” he says. But his hope has not died. “I think I will return to Russia in two or three years – as soon as political changes take place in my homeland.”
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
