Kremlin chief Putin promoted several prison officers shortly after the death of his opponent Alexei Navalny. Navalny's supporters see this as a reward.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin's promotion of senior law enforcement officials a few days after the death of Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny sparked criticism. The deputy head of the prison authority FSIN, Valeri Boyarinew, who was promoted to colonel general of the Interior Ministry, was personally responsible for the torture of Navalny in prison. The director of the Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) founded by Navalny, Ivan Zhdanov, wrote this on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. “You have to understand this as Putin's open reward for the torture,” said Zhdanov.
In July 2023, during a court hearing against Navalny, it became known that Boyarinew had ordered that Navalny be restricted from purchasing food and daily necessities. Normally, prisoners can use their money to supplement their own meager rations at the prison store. According to Zhdanov, the newly appointed colonel general was also responsible for further harassment of Navalny.
Video | Navalny's mother demands Putin's body
Source: t-online
Kremlin denies connection to Navalny's death
The 53-year-old's promotion became known on Monday when the presidential decree was published in the legal database. In addition to Boyarinew, three other correctional officers were promoted to the rank of general. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any connection between the promotions and Navalny's death. These are a very common occurrence, he said.
Alexei Navalny died on Friday in the prison camp with the unofficial name “Arctic Wolf” in the Siberian Arctic region of Yamal. The politician, weakened by repeated solitary confinement, is said to have collapsed during a tour of the icy prison yard and died despite attempts to resuscitate him, the Russian authorities said. Navalny was 47 years old at the time of his death.
To this day, the authorities have denied his relatives access to his body, despite international protests. Navalny's team, which accuses the Russian power apparatus of murder, sees this as an attempted cover-up. Here you can read more about it.
