Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny says he is back in solitary, conditions 'hellish'

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via video link from the IK-2 corrective penal colony in Pokrov before a court hearing to consider an appeal against his prison sentence, in Moscow, Russia May 17, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina

(Reuters) - Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny on Tuesday said he had been moved back into solitary confinement and forced to endure "extremely hellish" conditions.

Navalny, 46, is serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years in a high-security penal colony for fraud and contempt of court on charges that he says were trumped up to silence him. A documentary about him won an Oscar last month.