Putin’s Promotes Prison Official Who Tormented Opponent Alexei Navalny After Mysterious Death

In a move that has sparked widespread outrage, Russian President Vladimir Putin has promoted a senior prison official accused of tormenting opposition leader Alexei Navalny while he was in prison.

Just three days after Navalny’s tragic death behind bars, Valery Boyarinev, the deputy head of the Federal Penitentiary Service, was granted the rank of colonel general through a presidential decree posted on the official government portal.

The promotion of Boyarinev, who played a significant role in Navalny’s imprisonment, has raised serious concerns about the Russian government’s commitment to human rights and its treatment of political prisoners. Navalny’s supporters have alleged that Boyarinev orchestrated much of the mistreatment and harassment inflicted upon the late opposition leader while he was confined.

Ivan Zhdanov, a close ally of Navalny, denounced Boyarinev’s promotion as a “blatant reward for torture” from Putin himself. Zhdanov’s statement, shared on Telegram, highlighted that Boyarinev personally oversaw the torture inflicted on Navalny and that the restriction of Navalny’s access to food was a direct order from Boyarinev within the prison service.

Navalny himself had previously written about the use of food as a method of control and punishment in prison. He described the inadequate and inedible rations provided to inmates, which forced them to seek additional sources of sustenance. Navalny also recounted instances where prison officials would present him with purchased food that he was not allowed to consume while in isolation, and even made him pay for perishable items that would be immediately discarded.

The promotion of Boyarinev, despite the allegations against him, sends a message about the Russian government’s stance on human rights and its willingness to hold accountable those responsible for the mistreatment of political prisoners. Critics argue that it reflects a blatant disregard for justice and a lack of transparency and ability to address the systemic issues within the prison system.

The international community, human rights organizations, and supporters of Navalny continue to call for a thorough and independent investigation into his imprisonment and the circumstances of his death. The case has become emblematic of the broader struggle for justice and freedom of expression in Russia and prompted renewed calls for reform and an end to the mistreatment of political prisoners.

Navalny’s poisoning by the Russian intelligence service was shown in an Oscar-winning documentary in 2022.