'I am the new Santa Claus': Putin's main opponent, Navalny mocks the reality of the Polar Wolf prison, in the North Pole, where he is being held | world

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny used social media, Tuesday (26), to confirm his transfer to the prison known as the “Polar Wolf”, above the Arctic Circle.

“I am the new Santa Claus,” Navalny jokingly wrote in his first post from his new prison, referring to the harsh weather conditions there.

He said in his statement that he remains in good health and in excellent spirits, despite the exhausting journey that took about 20 days.

“It's been a very tiring 20 days of transfer, but I'm still in excellent spirits, as Santa Claus should be.”

“Well, now I have a sheepskin coat, an ushanka (a fur hat with a flap that covers the ears) and soon I will buy a valenki (traditional Russian boots worn in winter).

The new complex, where Navalny will be located, is known as the “Polar Wolf” colony. It is considered one of the most difficult prisons in the world. Russia. Most of the prisoners who remained there were convicted of serious crimes.

During the winter, temperatures in the area can reach Down to -28°C.

The prison is located about 60 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, and was established in the 1960s as part of what was previously the Soviet forced labor camp system, according to the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper.

Kira Yarmysh, the Russian politician's spokeswoman, said she believed the decision to move him to such a remote and inhospitable location was intended to isolate him, make his life more difficult and complicate access to his lawyers and allies.

Navalny has been imprisoned in Russia since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recovering in Germany from a poisoning that he blamed on the Kremlin. Before his arrest, he campaigned against corruption and organized large anti-Kremlin protests.