The health of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is deteriorating and he is beginning to lose sensation in his legs and hands, his lawyer says, writes BBC.

Vadim Kobzev said Navalny, who has been sent to a penal colony for two and a half years, had been diagnosed with two spinal hernias.

Last week, Navalny started a hunger strike to demand proper treatment for acute back and leg pain.

The White House said reports that his health was worsening were disturbing.

Kobzev, who visited Navalny on Wednesday, said on Twitter: “Alexei is walking himself. He feels pain while walking. It is very concerning that the illness is clearly progressing in terms of losing sensation in his legs, palms and wrists”.