Russia's Navalny jokes about 'naked party' from prison

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny cracked jokes on Wednesday in his first court appearance since being transferred to an Arctic penal colony, but a judgerejected his latest challenge against his treatment in prison. Navalny appeared by video link from the "Polar Wolf" colonyto which he was transferred last month from a prison inMelekhovo, east of Moscow, in an arduous three-week journey byroad and rail.

He drew laughter from the judge when he asked on the call whether the Melekhovo colony had thrown a party to celebrate his departure, and whether it had included karaoke.

He later inquired if the prison department in Melekhovo had staged a naked party - a reference to a gathering of scantily clad celebrities in Moscow last month that caused a national scandal.