MOSCOW – A Russian court on Saturday denied an appeal by opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny, paving the way for his possible transfer to the country’s penal colony system.
The verdict was awaited. Russian officials had already signaled before his return from Germany, where he was treated with a nerve agent for near-fatal poisoning last year, that his return would take him to prison.
According to the Russian criminal justice system, the transfer of an inmate to the penal colonies is a lengthy travel process with a specialized prisoner train. It can begin anytime after a court dismissed the first appeal against a conviction that took place on Saturday.
The journey can take weeks, with stops at transfer prisons, where inmates are generally not allowed to contact lawyers or family members. Their destination sometimes remains unknown until they arrive.
Andrew E. Kramer contributed to the coverage.
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