Navalny’s disappearance is a ploy by Kremlin to deepen his isolation, allies say

Worries about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny spread after prison officials said he was no longer on the inmate roster (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

The loss of contact with Alexei Navalny at the prison colony where the opposition leader was being held likely signals a Kremlin effort to tighten his isolation while President Vladimir Putin runs for re-election over the next three months, Mr Navalny’s spokeswoman has said.

Worries about Mr Navalny spread on Monday after officials at the facility east of Moscow said he was no longer on the inmate roster.