The health of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is deteriorating as he serves a prison sentence, his lawyers said, writes DW.

The politician, who narrowly survived a poisoning last year, is serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in a penal colony outside Moscow. The camp is notorious for its harsh discipline regime.

His lawyers demanded immediate access to Navalny, saying he was suffering from severe back pain and that his leg had gone numb. His supporters say he can no longer walk.

Lawyer Olga Mikhailova said a neurologist had attended Navalny but did not say what was wrong with him, only giving him ibuprofen.