The White House is “very concerned” that Russian dissident Alexei Navalny has gone lacking, a spokesman stated Wednesday, as allies of the anti-Kremlin activist report they haven’t been in a position to contact him for 2 weeks.
Mr. Navalny, 47, is a longtime critic of Vladimir Putin, the Russian president who invaded Ukraine in early 2022 and not too long ago introduced his intention to run for one more time period. People near the dissident misplaced contact with him on Dec. 6 and can’t discover him within the jail system, in keeping with wire stories.
“Very concerned about these reports; can’t confirm them,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated. “We’re concerned about that, as we have been. He should never have been detained in the first place.”
Special Rapporteur Mariana Katzarova, who stories on human rights in Russia for the U.N., additionally expressed unease.
Mr. Navalny was detained in January 2021 after his return to Moscow from Germany following remedy for poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin.
Mr. Navalny has led anti-Kremlin protests for a decade. He’s had a number of jail stints and says expenses in opposition to him are politically motivated.
“We call, again, on Moscow, the Kremlin, to immediately release him and to make sure that they can keep his family informed about his whereabouts,” Mr. Kirby stated.
