Navalny’s doctors arrested outside Russian prison

April 6, 2021 KT1 US 0

Police officers detain the Alliance of Doctors union's leader Anastasia Vasilyeva at the prison colony IK-2, which stands out among Russian penitentiary facilities for its particularly strict regime, in Pokrov in the Vladimir region, 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Doctors from the Navalny-backed Alliance of Doctors announced going to the Pokrov prison on Tuesday to demand the opposition leader gets qualified medical help from independent doctors after he complained about pain in his leg and back. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Police officers detained the Alliance of Doctors union’s leader Anastasia Vasilyeva at the prison colony IK-2, which stands out among Russian penitentiary facilities for its particularly strict regime, in Pokrov in the Vladimir region, 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

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UPDATED 5:30 PM PT – Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Dozens of Russians rallied in support of opposition leader Alexey Navalny outside the prison where he’s being held. On Tuesday, a team of medics, led by Navalny’s personal doctor, arrived at the prison. However, the administration refused to let them in.

The Alliance of Doctors union's leader Anastasia Vasilyeva, center in white, arrives to the prison colony IK-2, which stands out among Russian penitentiary facilities for its particularly strict regime, in Pokrov in the Vladimir region, 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Doctors from the Navalny-backed Alliance of Doctors announced going to the Pokrov prison on Tuesday to demand the opposition leader gets qualified medical help from independent doctors after he complained about pain in his leg and back. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

The Alliance of Doctors union’s leader Anastasia Vasilyeva, center in white, arrived to the prison colony IK-2, in the Vladimir region, 85 kilometers (53 miles) east of Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

Shortly after, a group of protesters arrived at the prison, demanding that doctors be given access to Navalny.

“We understand Navalny’s medical condition a little bit better than the prison administration,” Anastasia Vasilyeva, Navalny’s doctor said. “Here’s our plan, to talk to the chief correctional officer, to talk to the prison medic, and to come up with a solution to provide treatment to Navalny so that he ends his hunger strike. Because what’s going on is bad for his health.”

After a brief standoff, the doctors and several protesters were arrested by local police, citing security concerns.

The Russian opposition is now planning a major nationwide strike to demand Navalny’s release in coming weeks.