Moscow:
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is at escalating danger of kidney failure and his vision is deteriorating immediately after more than two weeks on hunger strike, a health-related trade union with ties to the opposition politician stated on Saturday.
Navalny, 44, a prominent opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, began refusing meals on March 31 in protest at what he stated was the refusal of prison authorities to treat him appropriately for acute back and leg discomfort.
“His condition is indeed critical,” stated Alexandra Zakharova, a representative of the Doctors Alliance trade union – a group that Russian authorities regard as opposition activists.
She cited tests obtained by means of Navalny’s lawyers, saying members of the union had not examined him themselves.
“We have seen the tests, and they are very, very bad,” she told Reuters.
“His potassium is high and he has other high readings which indicate that his kidneys may soon fail. This would lead to severe pathology and cardiac arrest may occur,” she added.
Russia jailed Navalny for two-and-a-half years in February for parole violations he stated have been trumped up. He was arrested at the border as he returned to Russia from Germany exactly where he had been recovering from a nerve agent poisoning.
About 80 renowned writers, actors, historians, journalists and directors, which includes authors JK Rowling and Salman Rushdie, wrote an open letter to Putin on Friday, urging him to guarantee Navalny gets the urgent health-related care he wants.
Prison authorities say they have presented Navalny suitable therapy, but that he has refused it and insists he must be treated by a medical professional of his option from outdoors the facility, a request they have declined.
Navalny stated on Friday that prison authorities had threatened to place him in a straitjacket to force-feed him unless he abandons his hunger strike.
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