Russia’s human rights commissioner claims Navalny’s medical treatment meets international standards
According to Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Tatyana Moskalkova, Alexey Navalny’s conditions of detention, and the medical treatment he’s receiving in prison, are in line with international standards. This was stated in a letter to the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, Interfax reports.
Moskalkova maintains that “the facts of the use of cruel or degrading treatment to [sic] Alexey Navalny have not been established.” She also claimed that Navalny “is given eight hours of uninterrupted sleep” during the nights.
“At the same time, according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, the staff of the facility is required to visit the room where the convicts are held, including at night, without having the right to interrupt their sleep. There was no forced interruption of [Alexey Navalny’s] sleep.”
The human rights commissioner noted that Navalny has “committed 14 violations” during the period of serving his sentence. According to Moskalkova, Navalny received reprimands for “refusal to perform his duties, refusal to make his bed, violation of the daily routine, [and] violation of wearing a uniform.”
Previously, Moskalkova stated that on April 20, Navalny was visited by four “civilian doctors,” who work for state hospitals in the Vladimir region. Apparently, these doctors were “not from the FSIN [Federal Penitentiary Service] system.” Moskalkova noted that there aren’t any “serious concerns” about Navalny’s health “so far.”
Alexey Navalny has been on hunger strike since March 31, demanding access to trusted doctors. He has complained about pain in his back and numbness in his legs for several weeks. Previously, the FSIN claimed that Navalny’s health was “satisfactory.” The opposition politician was transferred to a prisoners’ hospital on April 19.
Navalny has also complained of “torture by insomnia” in prison: he claims that because he has been registered as a “flight risk,” the prison staff wake him up for checks every hour throughout the night. Navalny has demanded they put a stop to this, on the grounds that it constitutes “illegal torture.”
