Alexei Navalny Located in Prison Colony Above Arctic Circle After Weeks of Silence

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been located in a prison colony above the Arctic Circle nearly three weeks after contact with him was lost, according to his associates.

Navalny’s spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, announced on X, formerly Twitter, that he was located in a prison colony in the town of Kharp, in the Yamalo-Nenetsk region, about 1,200 miles northeast of Moscow. The prison, known as IK-3, is located in the settlement of Kharp.

The disappearance of Russia’s most prominent opposition politician, who mobilized huge protests before being jailed in 2021, had spurred concerns from allies, rights groups and Western governments. It signaled a likely prison transfer, which can take weeks in Russia as prisoners are slowly moved by rail between far-flung facilities.

Navalny had been imprisoned in the Vladimir region of central Russia, about 140 miles east of Moscow, but his lawyers said they had not been able to reach him since Dec. 6. Navalny, the most prominent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is serving a combined prison term of more than 30 years.

The news of Navalny’s whereabouts has been met with relief from his allies and supporters, who have been concerned for his safety and well-being. They have also called for his immediate release, citing his unjust imprisonment and the lack of due process in his case.