Just a few days after the death of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison camp, the rumor mill continues to churn about the possible cause of death. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has promoted several prison officials as well as the deputy head of Russia’s prison authority. Navalny’s team sees this as a reward, Moscow denies this.
The Kremlin chief’s recent promotions are under a dark star. One of them, Valeri Boyarintsev, went to no one unknown: according to Navalny’s team, the deputy head of the FSIN prison authority would have been responsible for torturing the Putin critic in prison.
The harassment started last year
In any case, it’s quite a career move for Boyarintsev; he is now Colonel General of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. “This should be understood as Putin’s open reward for torture,” Ivan Zhdanov of the Anti-Corruption Fund (FBK) wrote on his Telegram channel.
Putin’s henchman began his harassment in July 2023 during a court hearing when he issued an order banning the opposition politician from buying food and everyday goods. According to Zhdanov, this was followed by further targeted malice against Navalny.
Moscow: “Perfectly normal process”
The 53-year-old’s promotion became known on Monday with the publication of the presidential decree in the legal database. In addition to Boyarintsev, three other correctional officers were promoted to the rank of general.
The Kremlin does not want to hear any criticism: spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in a statement that this was a “completely normal process” and immediately denied any link between Navalny’s death and the promotions.
Body still not transferred
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 while walking around the icy prison courtyard and died despite attempts to revive him. There are numerous theories floating around about what exactly happened; most international observers believe the Kremlin was involved in Navalny’s death.
Authorities have continued to deny his family members access to his body, despite international protests. Navalny’s team, which accuses the Russian power apparatus of murder, sees this as an attempt at a cover-up.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
