We demand an end to the torturous detention of Alexey Gorinov in the punishment cell

Alexey Gorinov, a 64-year-old former municipal deputy from Moscow, is a political prisoner convicted for “anti-war statements.” He was arrested in April 2022 and has been imprisoned for more than three years.

Following a serious illness and lung surgery, Alexey requires constant medical supervision and humane conditions of detention. However, for more than two months — since July 21 — he was held in the punishment isolation cell (SHIZO) at Penal Colony IK-10 (Rubtsovsk, Altai Krai). Immediately after being transferred there, he began to be placed in the SHIZO, and the term was extended four times on fabricated grounds, for example, for “not keeping his hands behind his back” while receiving bedding, or for leaving letters on his bedside table.

Conditions in the SHIZO are torturous: damp and cold, a hard wooden bunk that is only folded out at night, a toilet in the form of a pipe, and the absence of proper outdoor time. For a person with chronic lung disease, such conditions are life-threatening.

You can read more about what the SHIZO is and how it is used to pressure prisoners in our article.

Gorinov’s complaints were not forwarded to the prosecutor’s office, disciplinary decisions were made with violations and without considering the opinion of medical staff. His health and even his life were under threat.

Together, we sent 6,108 appeals to the prosecutor’s offices and the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) with the following demands:

• ● investigate the actions of the colony administration and the legality of placing Alexey in the SHIZO;
• ● provide him with an unscheduled medical examination and, if necessary, transfer him to a hospital;
• ● provide adequate conditions of detention, including access to warm clothing, medical care, correspondence, and complaint mechanisms;
• ● eliminate violations and prevent them from recurring.

On September 24, Alexey Gorinov was released from the SHIZO.

Unfortunately, he was not transferred to normal conditions of detention, but instead placed in a prison-like cell (PKT) — currently for approximately two months, but with no guarantee that the term will not be extended.

Nevertheless, there is some good news: Alexey has finally begun receiving medical tests, and his health is now being monitored.

In addition, a prosecutor visited Alexey twice, a video call was held with the Human Rights Ombudsman of Altai Krai, and members of the regional Public Monitoring Commission (ONK) visited him. They promised to review Alexey’s complaints, and issues with correspondence were explained as “technical reasons.”

We see that thousands of our appeals have had an impact: authorities and officials have begun to treat Alexey’s situation more seriously.

This is an important step toward normalizing his treatment in the new colony. It is also significant that, with the onset of colder weather, he is now in a warmer facility where there is a mattress, pillow, and blanket, and where his health is at least being monitored.

None of this would have been possible without your solidarity and support. Thank you!

What’s next?

Conditions in the PKT remain very strict: prisoners are isolated from one another, outdoor time and the number of visits are reduced, limits on purchases and phone calls with relatives are significantly restricted, and the number of permitted parcels is reduced.

We have stopped sending appeals through the “Dyatel” platform, as our current demand has been met. However, we will continue to work toward transferring Alexey to regular detention conditions in the new colony, as well as toward his full release.

We know that on such long and difficult journeys, it is very important to value even small improvements. Therefore, thank you to everyone who supported Alexey through appeals and letters!

How else can you help?

Write a letter to Alexey Gorinov through our “Vestochka” service. He especially needs your support right now. Alexey is interested in space, loves animals, and plays billiards well.

Support our work. Thanks to your donations, we can continue helping politically persecuted individuals not face the system alone.