Imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, whose supporters had lost contact with him for several weeks, assured them in a social media post that he was fine after being transferred to a prison in the Arctic region of northern Russia.
The transfer, which took 20 days, was "quite tiring," he said on the X platform.
"But I'm in a good mental state, like Santa Claus," added Alexei Navalny, referring to his beard that grew during his multi-day journey and new winter clothes adapted to polar temperatures.
“Anyway, don't worry about me. I am fine. I am relieved that I have finally arrived," he said.
His allies, who were preparing for his expected transfer to a maximum-security prison in the Russian prison system, said he has not met with lawyers since December 6 and raised alarm over his fate.
"Thanks to our supporters, activists, journalists and media who have been concerned about the fate of Alexei and who do not tire of writing about the situation," said opposition lawyer Navalny, Ivan Zhdanov.
He said his supporters sent 618 requests for information on the whereabouts of Navalny, who was being held in a prison about 235 kilometers east of Moscow.