Alexei Navalny's Health Is Called Deteriorating, The US And The European Union Warn Russia

Alexei Navalny. (Wikimedia Commons / Michał Siergiejevicz)

JAKARTA - Supporters of Kremlin critics who are serving time in prison Alexei Navalny, are planning to hold a massive demonstration on Wednesday this week, as his health condition deteriorates.

Last Saturday, Navalny's medical tests showed the potential for kidney failure, leading to a heart attack. Conditions for which the United States issued a warning.

"Everything is developing too fast and too bad. The extreme situation demands an extreme decision", wrote a supporter in a statement on the Navalny website as reported by Reuters Monday, April 19.

Alexei Navalny went on a hunger strike starting March 31 in protest at the refusal of the undergraduate authorities to provide him with adequate medical care regarding his back pain and acute illness.

Prison authorities said Navalny was offered proper medical treatment but refused, insisting he was treated by a doctor of his choice from outside the facility, a request they refused. Meanwhile, Navalny's supporters said he refused the prison's medical treatment because it was out of date and sometimes dangerous.

Navalny said prison authorities threatened to force him to accept food. Meanwhile, Russia accused Navalny of exaggerating his medical condition, to attract attention and refuse prison medical treatment.

"He will not be allowed to die in prison. But I can say, Mr. Navalny, he is behaving like a criminal", Russia's British Ambassador to Britain Andrei Kelin said in an interview with the BBC on Sunday.

Western countries and the United States responded to Navalny's condition. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States government had told Russia there would be consequences if Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny died in prison.

"We have communicated to the Russian government that what happened to Mr. Navalny in their custody is their responsibility. And they will be held accountable by the international community", Sullivan told CNN.

"In terms of specific actions, we see a variety of different costs that we will incur. I will not tell the public at this time. But we have communicated the consequences if Mr. Navalny dies", he said.

Separately, EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss Navalny's condition this Monday. Meanwhile, the head of the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, asked Moscow to take responsibility for the issue as well.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas asked Navalny to receive medical treatment immediately.

French President Emmanuel Macron said world powers must draw a "clear red line" with Russia, and consider possible sanctions when breaking them.

The UK is also very concerned about reports of unacceptable treatment of Navalny and his continued deteriorating health, the UK foreign ministry said.