UN Rapporteur Calls for Urgent Medical Care for Crimean Political Prisoners in Russia

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, has called on the Russian authorities to provide immediate and comprehensive medical care to Crimean political prisoners currently being held in Russia.

According to the UN, any detained person must always be treated with humanity and dignity, including access to adequate medical care.

"However, Ukrainians detained in Russia are in a difficult situation," Edwards emphasized.

Denial of medical care could be considered a form of torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, she said.

"In all eight cases I have investigated, the detainees have serious medical conditions, some of which are reportedly life-threatening. Urgent action is needed to protect their lives," the Special Rapporteur said.

At least two people required medical treatment after being beaten by colony staff. In one case, the violence was so severe that the victim's spine was broken. Three persons with disabilities were not provided with adequate medical services due to their disabilities, Edwards said.

The Special Rapporteur noted the constant lack of medical care and poor conditions of detention of Crimean political prisoners. The cases of human rights defenders Emir-Usein Kuku and Iryna Danilovych were among the cases reviewed by the expert.

Thus, in 2015, Kuku was beaten by officers of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), which led to an injury to his spine. At that time, his injuries were not treated. Over the past five years, the Crimean Tatar has suffered from various illnesses, including untreated leg swelling and severe kidney pain, which required emergency surgery. However, he was not even informed of the type or results of this surgery. He remains in prison in Russia.

Human rights activist and citizen journalist Danilovich was abducted by the Ukrainian Special Forces at a bus stop in Crimea in April 2022. She suffered from unbearable pain in her ear, but did not receive proper medical care during her detention. Danilovich has lost hearing in her left ear, suffers from constant headaches, coordination disorders and may have suffered a stroke. She remains in prison in Russia.

In total, Edwards reviewed in detail eight of the hundreds of cases of Crimean Ukrainians held by Russia. The deterioration of their health is a result of torture, and it is worsening due to the conditions of detention, she noted.

"This comes more than a year after my assessment that torture and ill-treatment are part of Russia's military policy. Torture continues to be committed in an organized and systematic manner. Russia must put an end to these abuses without further delay," the Special Rapporteur said.

She has sent a letter to the Russian government in this regard and will continue to monitor the situation.

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