"According to a social media post tied to Novak's friends and family, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service sent a letter to her lawyer Yulia Kuznetsova saying that she is still at Penal Colony No. 11 in Russia's Irkutsk region where she was transferred to on March 1. Kuznetsova has not confirmed this on her public social media accounts and she was not immediately available to answer RFE/RL's request for comment."
"She was transferred to the Siberian correctional colony in March, where she complained about torture-like conditions before going on a hunger strike. Novak said she was placed in solitary confinement there for refusing to give media interviews about how "everything is fine in the colony and the prisoners are happy" and for refusing to work as a seamstress."
Nika Novak, 33, was reported to still be held at Penal Colony No. 11 in Russia's Irkutsk region after the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service sent a letter to her lawyer stating her presence there. Her lawyer, Yulia Kuznetsova, has not publicly confirmed the letter and was not immediately available for comment. Concern arose when Kuznetsova said a November 30 call to the colony was rejected and a formal request was required, after which Novak appeared to be in transit. Novak received a four-year sentence after a closed-door trial for "confidential cooperation" with a foreign organization, has complained of torture-like conditions, undertaken a hunger strike, and been placed in solitary for refusing certain media statements and forced work.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
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