On Christmas, Alexey Navalny, the prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, has re-established contact with his team and lawyer. Navalny, who was found in a remote penal colony in the far north of Russia, far from populated areas, has maintained his sense of humor amidst the harsh conditions. Leonid Volkov, Navalny's chief strategist, noted the difficulty in reaching the colony or even sending letters. In his first comments since his disappearance, Navalny made darkly humorous comments, referring to himself as the 'new Santa Claus'.
Don’t think I’d be. Respect. “Alexei Navalny: ‘I’m fine’ says Kremlin critic from remote Arctic penal colony.” https://t.co/xnXrZf6Ak0
Navalny, the most prominent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism. https://t.co/BaUHMkImB2 https://t.co/BaUHMkImB2
Russian opposition leader Navalny calls himself the "new Santa Claus" in his first comments since reappearance https://t.co/5adWHzNxKk
“The imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny resurfaces with darkly humorous comments.” An extraordinary man. https://t.co/ltnlguFgx4
Putin critic Alexei Navalny proves he’s "fine’—and hasn’t lost his sense of humor: “I am your new Santa Claus." https://t.co/Ov5eqf3RXB
NEW - Navalny jokes about becoming Santa Claus in Arctic penal colony https://t.co/eKNFxv2uwL
"I'm your new Santa Claus": Alexei Navalny makes first comments since disappearance https://t.co/ivl0sPQxTs
Alexei Navalny resurfaces with darkly humorous comments https://t.co/iT5uLbysVq
Navalny's forced isolation in a remote penal colony is more than a punishment; it's a tacit admission of fear. Putin's regime, by removing Navalny during the elections, acknowledges the power of Russian opposition to sway public opinion and disturb the facade of total control 1/
Navalny joking from his frozen prison camp in the far North of Russia, to which he was just moved, that he is now our Santa Claus (Grandfather Frost, as the Russians call him). Best sense of humor of a political prisoner ever. Also no doubt trying to reassure family and friends. https://t.co/o9NftHGFYh
There is something quite indomitable about @navalny's capacity to retain a sense of humour in such terrible conditions https://t.co/vBPnP4tNSv
Navalny was found in one of the most northern prisons, far from populated areas. Communication with him is limited: correspondence through the online services of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) is not available in the colony. https://t.co/VKy1LLnVLR https://t.co/841ohaudrv
“It is almost impossible to get to this colony; it is almost impossible to even send letters there,” Leonid Volkov, Aleksei Navalny’s chief strategist, said. https://t.co/N3DHnGZWQG
Mere mortals cannot fathom the courage of someone like Navalny. It will be endlessly counter-intuitive, insistently bizarre, without a sense of Russian history (esp the last half of the nineteenth century), culture, and conviction.
Some good news on Christmas! #freeNavalny . https://t.co/doFwoOJH0z
Alexey Navalny has re-established contact with his team and lawyer https://t.co/sEgqiM29xN