Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny says a prison commission had designated him an extremist and a terrorist – but he’s no longer considered a flight risk
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Monday (October 11) that a prison commission has designated him an extremist and a terrorist – but that he’s no longer considered a flight risk.
Posting on Instagram, the 45-year-old said he has been summoned before a panel which voted unanimously in favor of the status change.
The decision marks a further escalation of pressure against President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest domestic critic.
Navalny is currently serving 2-and-a-half years in prison for parole violations he says were fabricated to thwart his political ambitions.
He made light of the announcement, saying that he was glad he was no longer considered prone to escape, and would therefore be subjected to less frequent and stringent night time checks by guards.
“It’s just that there is now a sign over my bunk that I am a terrorist, ” said Navalny in the Instagram post, which was published with the help of his lawyers.
There was no immediate confirmation from Russian authorities of the change in Navalny’s status.
The Federal Penitentiary Service did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Navalny’s movement suffered a fresh blow back in June when a court ruled its activities to be extremist.
Last month, Russia opened a new criminal case against him that could keep him in jail for a further decade.
