UK sanctions Arctic prison bosses at the colony where Alexei Navalny died

21 February 2024 , 12:09

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Alexei Navalny had died in an Arctic prison (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Six brutal individuals at the head of the Arctic penal colony where Alexei Navalny died have been sanctioned by the British government.

The six Russian officials working at the IK-3 penal colony in the Arctic, nicknamed Polar Wolf, are now banned from the UK and subject to an asset freeze preventing UK companies and individuals from dealing with them. Britain has become the first country to impose measures in response to the politician's death, which has been widely blamed on warmonger President Vladimir Putin, the Foreign Office said.

Vadim Konstantinovich Kalinin, who allegedly oversaw the brutal prison camp where Alexei was kept in solitary confinement for up to two weeks at a time, is among those sanctioned, according to a statement from the department on Wednesday.

The others sanctioned are his deputies: Lieutenant Colonel Sergey Nikolaevich Korzhov, Lieutenant Colonel Vasily Alexandrovich Vydrin, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Ivanovich Pilipchik, Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Vladimirovich Golyakov and Colonel Aleksandr Valerievich Obraztsov.

A picture taken on April 19, 2021 shows an exterior view of the IK-3 penal colony (AFP via Getty Images)

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said: "It's clear that the Russian authorities saw Navalny as a threat and they tried repeatedly to silence him. FSB operatives poisoned him with Novichok in 2020, they imprisoned him for peaceful political activities, and they sent him to an Arctic penal colony. No-one should doubt the oppressive nature of the Russian system. That's why we're today sanctioning the most senior prison officials responsible for his custody in the penal colony where he spent his final months. Those responsible for Navalny's brutal treatment should be under no illusion - we will hold them accountable."

Jailed Navalny ally Ilya Yashin thrown in ‘punishment cell’ at notorious prison after removing his jacket at breakfast

Meanwhile, Lyudmila Navalnaya has been trying to retrieve her son’s body since Saturday. She has been unable to find out where his body is being held, Navalny’s team reported. Navalnaya appealed to Putin yesterday to release her son’s remains so that she could bury him with dignity. She said in a video from outside the prison: "For the fifth day, I have been unable to see him. They wouldn’t release his body to me. And they’re not even telling me where he is. ’m reaching out to you, Vladimir Putin. The resolution of this matter depends solely on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei’s body is released immediately, so that I can bury him like a human being."

Russian authorities have said the cause of Navalny’s death is still unknown and refused to release his body for the next two weeks as the preliminary inquest continues, members of Navalny's team said. They accused the government of stalling to try to hide evidence. On Monday, Navalny’s widow, Yulia, released a video accusing Putin of killing her husband and alleged the refusal to release his body was part of a cover-up.

Rachel Hagan