In Russian colonies, Crimean political prisoners-journalists have not received medical care for years

Crimean journalists in Russian colonies have not received qualified medical care for years, although they have serious health problems.

According to journalist and human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva, civilian journalist Vilen Temeryanov , who has been in detention since August 2022, complains of recurrent stomach pains. The journalist and human rights activist Irina Danilovich, who has been in detention since April 2022, needs the help of a dentist. In addition, the political prisoner has completely lost hearing in her left ear after otitis media, and the left side of her body is numb after a microstroke. She also suffers from heart and headaches.

Asan Akhtemov has been in detention since September 2021. The man reported that his eyesight had deteriorated due to the lack of light in the cell, his knees began to hurt, and almost all his teeth had crumbled. Osman Arifmemetov has been in detention since March 2019. The man has already lost 22 kilograms. At the same time, he was transferred to strict conditions of detention, where calls to his family are not allowed.

"For what reason, we do not know, but we believe that this is such pressure on Osman, because even in prison he continues to work as a journalist and writes very strong, powerful texts about what is happening in Crimea," Zudiyeva said.

Remzi Bekirov has been in prison since March 2019. He has lost 15 kg. Amet Suleymanov has been in detention since March 2020. He complains of constant heart pain and suffers from high blood pressure. Recently, it became known that in Crimea he was removed from the waiting list for a heart valve replacement surgery, which was supposed to be performed several years before his arrest. The situation is life-threatening for the Crimean Tatar, but the Russian authorities are doing nothing to remedy it.

Timur Ibragimov has been in detention since October 2017. A year ago, he reported that he urgently needed to replace his eye implant. This is impossible in the colony. The man complains of deteriorating eyesight, asked for medical care, but never received it. Server Mustafayev has been imprisoned since May 2018, he is in a colony in the Tambov region. He also began to have problems with his eyesight. Seiran Saliyev has been in detention since October 2017. In detention, his teeth have also deteriorated and his eyesight has deteriorated.

According to Zudiyeva, Ukraine and international institutions should seek access to independent doctors and ombudsmen of other countries to Crimean journalists in detention to help them.

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