Navalny's Disappearance Raises Concerns About Prison System

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been removed from the penal colony where he was imprisoned, and his current whereabouts are unknown, according to his allies. Navalny's aides had been expecting his transfer to a harsher prison after he was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison. The timing of his disappearance coincides with the start of the campaign period for Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin confirmed his candidacy. Navalny's supporters believe his removal is a deliberate move by the Kremlin to silence his voice as Putin's main opponent. The process of transferring prisoners in Russia can take weeks, leaving relatives and family in the dark about their well-being.