Last Wednesday, Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny declared a hunger strike – one that threatens to develop into a protracted struggle, including for improving conditions across Russia’s prison system.
“Nothing else is happening in Russian civil society today except Navalny,” said Pavel Chikov, head of the Agora human rights group, in response to the news – and it’s hard to disagree.
At first glance, Navalny, who returned to Russia in mid-January, has made specific demands against the administration in the prison in the town of Pokrov. He is demanding quality medical treatment, with his lawyer having described him as ‘seriously ill’, and also complains about interference in his communication with other prisoners. But recent history, and the reality of Russia’s prison system, suggests that these demands have all the potential to turn political all-too quickly.
