Blind political prisoner from Crimea may be released from Russian prison

Russia is considering the possibility of releasing a political prisoner from Crimea who has completely lost his eyesight and needs special care. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, despite his disability and lack of evidence.

This was reported by journalist and human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva.

According to the human rights activist, the Minusinsk City Court of the Krasnoyarsk Territory is to consider the submission of the regional department of the Federal Penitentiary Service regarding the possible release of convicted prisoner Alexander Sizikov for health reasons. The basis for the consideration is Article 81 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which allows for release in cases of serious illness incompatible with further detention.

Information about the scheduled hearing appeared on the official court portal, but the details of the case have not yet been made public.

According to the prisoner's mother, Elena Sizikova, the materials were submitted to the court on April 4, 2025, after a medical examination of her son in a hospital in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Sizikov has serious health problems - he has completely lost his eyesight, reads only Braille and moves around with a cane, requiring constant special care.

Despite his serious condition, on December 9, 2024, he was transferred from Crimea to a colony in the Krasnoyarsk Territory - despite the requests of his lawyer Safie Shabanova, who insisted on postponing the transportation on medical grounds.

The defense has repeatedly emphasized that Sizikov's disease is included in the official list of diseases that make it impossible to serve a sentence under Russian law. However, in 2024, the Crimean Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service refused to file a petition for release, explaining that the convict was allegedly only temporarily in the region.

The occupation administration in Crimea has increased pressure on those who disagree with the war: since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, at least 1350 proceedings have been registered on charges of "discrediting the army". Approximately one in two cases involves women.

Анна Бальчінос