Geneva, The United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Russian Federation, Mariana Katzarova, expressed grave concerns over the enforced disappearance of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition figure. Navalny’s whereabouts and wellbeing have been unknown for over 10 days, including his absence from a scheduled court hearing.

According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Katzarova raised these concerns with the Russian authorities last Friday. She emphasized the alarming nature of the Russian authorities’ refusal to disclose Navalny’s whereabouts and condition, which she categorized as an enforced disappearance. This concern was heightened by the failure of a court hearing scheduled to address the violations of Navalny’s human rights in detention, where Navalny’s lawyers, barred from meeting him since December 6, were informed that he was no longer held in the Vladimir region without further details.

Katzarova cited ongoing concerns regarding Navalny’s ill-treatment in detention and lack of adequate medical care since January 17, 2021. This mistreatment has reportedly harmed his health and poses significant risks to his life. In their efforts to locate Navalny, his family and lawyers have contacted all penal colonies, receiving initial but later refuted information that he might be in an Omsk penal colony.

The Special Rapporteur noted that Navalny was being prepared for transfer to a stricter penal colony following his August 4, 2023, sentencing to an additional 19 years on unfounded “extremism” charges. She warned of the high risks of grave human rights violations during detainee transportation. Katzarova condemned the continuous criminal persecution of Navalny, which has received widespread international criticism, as a blatant misuse of the legal system for political ends.

Additionally, the arrest of three of Navalny’s lawyers on October 13, 2023, on charges of “extremism” was highlighted by the UN expert. This act not only seeks to cut off Navalny’s communication beyond prison but also to deny him his right to defense. Katzarova pointed out this as part of a broader pattern of persecution of human rights lawyers in Russia, particularly those representing dissident voices, and the dangerous employment of “extremism” charges in politically motivated cases.

Katzarova urged the Russian authorities to respect their international human rights obligations, criticizing the use of the term “extremism” in this context as lacking basis in international law and constituting a human rights violation. She called for the immediate release of Navalny and all arbitrarily detained individuals, insisting on remedies and reparations for all suffered harm in accordance with international human rights obligations.