Alexei Navalny Hospitalized in Russia Three Weeks Into Hunger Strike

Mr. Navalny, a prominent Putin critic who is serving a 2½-year prison sentence after being convicted of violating parole conditions, was transferred to a hospital for convicts within the prison system in Russia’s Vladimir region, prison authorities said Monday.

His health condition had been “assessed as satisfactory” and a doctor has been examining him every day, they said. The activist had also consented to being prescribed “vitamin therapy,” they added, without detailing the nature of such treatment.

Mr. Navalny has been on hunger strike for about three weeks over what he has called poor treatment since he was incarcerated in February. He has accused authorities of lack of medical attention for what he described as debilitating back pain and numbness in his legs and one hand.

The U.S. warned on Sunday that there would be consequences if Mr. Navalny died while incarcerated.

“We in no way acknowledge such statements, which are voiced by representatives of other states,” presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “The state of the health of convicts and prisoners on the territory of the Russian Federation cannot and should not be a topic for their interest.”

Mr. Peskov said he was unaware of Navalny’s health status and couldn’t trust media reports regarding his condition.

Prison authorities have refused to allow Mr. Navalny to be assessed by a doctor of his choice and said he is receiving all necessary medical assistance and being treated like all other inmates in accordance with the law.

Allies of Mr. Navalny, including doctors who have been trying to gain access to examine him, expressed dissatisfaction over the facility where the politician was moved to. On its website, it describes itself as a tuberculosis hospital.

“This is not a hospital at all, where they can diagnose and prescribe treatment for his problems,” the team of Anastasia Vasilieva, director of the Alliance of Doctors medical workers’ union, said on Twitter. “We urgently demand to hold a consultation and admit us, his attending physicians, to [attend] it.”

Prison hospital officials didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Mr. Navalny would be housed with tuberculosis patients.

Supporters of Mr. Navalny have called for nationwide protests Wednesday to demand his release. The same day, President Vladimir Putin is expected to give his annual address to the national legislature.

Mr. Peskov said he didn’t know of any organizations in Russia that had applied for permission to hold a rally, but was aware of calls for protests in Russia from abroad.

“If any unauthorized actions are initiated, they will automatically be illegal and in this respect law enforcement agencies will act in line with Russian law,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

On Friday, Moscow’s prosecutor’s office on behalf of the general prosecutor’s office said it had filed a request seeking to outlaw Mr. Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Fund and regional branches of his campaign, by branding them as “extremist groups” under legislation typically reserved for terrorist organizations and violent religious sects.

Mr. Peskov said the Russian president would use Monday and Tuesday to prepare his address to the national legislature, which would be delivered at noon Wednesday. Mr. Putin was expected to meet with the government Monday to discuss his message, Mr. Peskov said.

Last year, Mr. Putin used his national legislature speech to announce sweeping constitutional amendments that included a provision to allow him to potentially remain in power until 2036.

Mr. Navalny led a campaign to boycott the July referendum on the amendments, saying the vote would be falsified regardless of the real outcome. Mr. Putin claimed 78{f08ff3a0ad7db12f5b424ba38f473ff67b97b420df338baa81683bbacd458fca} of Russians supported the vote, a victory members of the opposition said has emboldened the Russian leader and his allies to exert pressure on potential challenges to Mr. Putin’s rule.

Write to Ann M. Simmons at [email protected]