MOSCOW — A Russian courtroom on Saturday rejected an enchantment by the opposition chief Aleksei A. Navalny, clearing the way in which for his doable switch to the nation’s penal colony system.
The ruling was anticipated. Russian officers had signaled since earlier than Mr. Navalny returned from Germany, the place he was being handled for a near-lethal poisoning with a nerve agent final 12 months, that his homecoming would land him in a jail.
Below Russia’s felony justice system, transferring an inmate to the penal colonies is a prolonged technique of journey on a specialised prisoner prepare wagon. It could start at any level after a courtroom rejects the primary enchantment of a sentencing, which occurred on Saturday.
The journey can take weeks, with stops at switch prisons, throughout which inmates are typically not allowed to contact legal professionals or relations. Their vacation spot generally stays unknown till they arrive.
Andrew E. Kramer contributed reporting.
