Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who has been imprisoned since 2021, has been found alive and has been transferred to a penal colony in northern Russia, according to his spokesperson. Kira Yarmysh announced on 25 December that Navalny had been located after his team had no contact with him since 6 December when he was moved from a previous prison.

Navalny's lawyer had the opportunity to see him today and confirmed that he is in good condition, as reported by Yarmysh on the Telegram messaging app. The opposition leader has been relocated to the IK-3 penal colony in Kharp, located in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, which is known as one of the toughest prisons in Russia. Most inmates held there have been convicted of serious crimes.

Yarmysh expressed concerns that the Russian authorities are deliberately isolating Navalny and attempting to make his life as difficult as possible. The location of the new penal colony is remote and challenging to access, making it difficult for lawyers to visit and see Navalny, she added.

Navalny's recent move is seen as a clear demonstration of how the Russian system deals with political prisoners, aiming to suppress and isolate them, according to his aide Ivan Zhadov. The opposition leader's absence from several court hearings had raised alarm among his team.

Alexei Navalny gained prominence as an anti-corruption campaigner, earning millions of views for his video investigations exposing corruption within the Russian government. He emerged as a charismatic figure capable of mobilizing large numbers of people across Russia to participate in anti-government protests.

In 2020, Navalny was poisoned in Siberia with a nerve agent, later confirmed by Western laboratories. He received medical treatment abroad and upon his return to Russia in 2021, he was immediately arrested. The trial against Navalny was held far from Moscow, indicating the authorities' attempt to avoid publicity.

The whereabouts of the prominent opposition figure had been unknown for six days, causing uncertainty among his associates. The transfer to the harsh penal colony in northern Russia raises concerns about the length and conditions of Navalny's imprisonment, potentially extending his time behind bars for decades.