Russian President Vladimir Putin has promoted a high-ranking prison officer several days after the death of leading opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

The deputy head of the FSIN prison authority, Valery Boyarinev, was promoted to colonel general of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which Mr Navalny established, wrote on his Telegram channel on Tuesday that Mr Boyarinev was personally responsible for Mr Navalny’s torture in prison.

“This must be understood as Putin’s open reward for the torture,’’ Ivan Zhdanov said of Mr Boyarinev’s promotion.

In July 2023, an order by Mr Boyarinev to restrict the opposition politician’s ability to buy food and daily necessities became known during a court hearing against Mr Navalny.

Prisoners can normally use their money to supplement their meagre rations in the prison shop.

According to Mr Zhdanov, the newly appointed colonel general was also responsible for further harassment of Mr Navalny.

Mr Boyarinev’s promotion became known on Monday when the presidential decree was published in the legal database. 

In addition to Mr Boyarinev, three other law enforcement officers were also promoted to the rank of general.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied any connection between Navalny’s death and the promotions, downplaying it as a normal procedure.

Mr Navalny, 47, died on Friday in a Siberian prison camp.

Weakened by repeated solitary confinement, Mr Navalny reportedly collapsed during a tour of the icy prison yard and died despite attempts at resuscitation.

Despite international protests, the authorities were still refusing his relatives access to his body. 

(dpa/NAN)