More than 70 prominent international figures have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure that imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny receives proper medical care.
The open letter has been published in, among others, the French newspaper Le Monde.
Among the signatories are J.K. Rowling, Salman Rushdie and Martin Amis, actors Vanessa Redgrave and Jude Law and Abba musician Björn Ulvaeus. The letter’s signatories state that Navalni’s health is deteriorating rapidly and needs urgent medical attention.
They point out that the opposition leader has a severe neurological condition with persistent back pain and cough, and a high fever.
Navalny went on a hunger strike at the end of March because he would not receive proper care for his complaints in prison. His health is worsening rapidly, according to his lawyers. Navalny wants to be examined by a doctor of his choice, but that is not allowed.
The Kremlin critic was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in February. The court ruled that he violated the terms of his parole in a fraud case while in Germany, where Navalny was being treated for poisoning. According to him, it would have been the work of the Kremlin.