Russia ups security at Navalny prison ahead of planned protest

Allies of the Kremlin critic, who claims to be on hunger strike, prepare to demonstrate over an alleged lack of medical care.

Russian police have stepped up security at the prison holding Alexey Navalny as the Kremlin critic’s supporters prepare to stage a rally outside the facility to demand that authorities give him proper medical care. Navalny, 44, announced a hunger strike last week in protest against what he said was the refusal of prison authorities to treat him for acute back and leg pain. A group of his allies said they would gather at the prison in the town of Pokrov, 100 kilometres (60 miles) east of Moscow, from Tuesday unless he saw a doctor of his choice and was given what they termed “sufficient treatment”.