Alexei Navalny: The 'mysterious noise' the night before his death – what a fellow prisoner reveals

Communication with prisoners at the IK-3 penal colony in the Russian Arctic has never been easy, due to the facility's strict detention and isolation regime.

However, after Alexei Navalny's death was announced on Friday, contacting anyone without the Federal Correctional Service Agency has become more difficult – but not impossible.

The independent Novaya Europa website was able to communicate with one of the prisoners they spoke about “Mysterious disorder” In the penal colony the night before Navalny's death was announced.

“It all started when… They were quick to flirt all afternoon. This usually happens during the holidays, when prison guards rush out to celebrate. However, yesterday (Thursday) was not a holiday. Then they locked us up, prevented any movement between the barracks, and tightened security measures. “We could hear cars entering the prison grounds late at night, but we could not see out of the windows of our cells,” the prisoner told Novaya Europe.

As he put it: “The first thing the guards did the next morning was to thoroughly search the prisoners’ cells, confiscating mobile phones, playing cards, and even heaters, which they had thus far pretended not to see. The guards were acting as if an external inspection was imminent.

“Normally, the administration and prisoners are informed of these inspections about a month in advance and prepare accordingly. Because neither guards nor prisoners want inspectors to find violations. And so we waited for the inspection out of nowhere! Something must have happened,” he admits.

And then, About 10 a.m. on FridayThat is, more than four hours after the official time of death announced by the Russian authoritiesNews of Navalny's death began to spread among the prisoners.

He added: “The punishment cell where they put Navalny is located on the side of the barracks, but we could see an ambulance going there. But there was no ambulance in the colony that morning, and it did not appear until after news of Navalny’s death spread. So I think he died earlier.” Much earlier than the officially announced date – perhaps the night before. Why, why do they lock us up and search us so carefully? asks the unnamed prisoner.

However, according to him, The prison administration seemed embarrassed In front of developments. He says both the warden and the prison's chief of operations appeared distraught as soon as the news broke.

“Several cars arrived at the command unit in the afternoon. One was from IK-18, one from Salehard, and a few others from Labetnanji, it seems. I think it was They wanted to coordinate their narrative before inspectors arrived».

The prisoners were informed that inspectors from the Central Service of the Federal Penitentiary Service would come to IK-3 at about the same time they learned of Navalny's death. According to Novaya Europe's source, this is further evidence that Navalny died much earlier than the announced date.

but, There is widespread belief among prisoners that neither director Vadim Kalinin nor his subordinates had anything to do with Navalny's death.Although they do not completely rule out the possibility that they were ordered to do something they did not want to do.

FSB agents in Harp

It was also learned earlier today from Russian activists that its agents (formerly the KGB) visited the prison of Alexei Navalny two days before his death, which further complicates the scenarios surrounding the circumstances of the death of the 47-year-old lawyer and opposition figure.

Gulagu.net, founded by human rights activist Vladimir Ushtekin, also reported that several officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) – the Russian intelligence service – visited the Polar Wolf prison in the Arctic city of Harp, and during their visit they disconnected the security cameras and equipment. Accompanying. Listening devices.

Thrilling autopsy movie

“The first autopsy will determine the exact time of death based on body temperature, the solidity of the morgue and the condition of the internal organs,” pathologist Irina Sitnova told Novaya Europe. “Since the family has doubts about the official cause of death announced by the authorities, they will insist on an independent autopsy. If Navalny did indeed die of blood clots, as the authorities claim, the autopsy will clearly show this, and a second autopsy will confirm it. But the subsequent autopsy from “The exact time of death is unlikely to be determined.”

As medical examiner Igor S. noted, ascertaining the exact time of death is important not only for determining the cause of death but also for documenting the events leading up to it. However, he explains, “there is a great risk that the last hours of Navalny's life will forever remain a mystery to his family and public opinion.”

In the case of blood clots, explains Igor S., it is likely that the clot broke free on its own or after external intervention – for example, a blow to the point where it formed. This is exactly the kind of information an initial autopsy typically provides, he points out.

“After the first autopsy, the condition of his internal organs would not be particularly informative,” he explains. “If his relatives cannot find independent experts to attend the first autopsy, it will be difficult to dispute the official time of death and determine the sequence of events that led to Navalny’s death.”

But at the moment the official version of the authorities is this Navalny died of “sudden death syndrome.”

His family, lawyers and associates disputed this account, complaining that “the killers were trying to cover their tracks” by hiding his body.

Source: Novaya Europe/Independent