21 Ukrainian political prisoners of the Kremlin need urgent medical care

There are 21 political prisoners in Russian prisons who need urgent medical care.

Ukrainian human rights activists have compiled a list of Kremlin prisoners whom Russia refuses to treat.

The list is called the Gafarov-Shyring list. Kostiantyn Shyring and Dzhemil Gafarov died in Russian prisons in February 2023.

"Russia does not ensure the right of Crimean political prisoners to access medical care, and Ukrainian citizens are brought to such a poor state of health that they die," said Viktoriia Nesterenko, project manager at the ZMINA Human Rights Centre.

Ihor Kotelianets, head of the Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Kremlin, said that most prisoners have chronic illnesses, and some have disabilities. The situation is aggravated by poor nutrition, damp and half-lit cells where prisoners are held, and psychological pressure.

The Gafarov-Shyring list includes Teymur Abdullayev, Arsen Abkhairov, Servet Gaziyev, Iryna Danylovych, Nariman Dzhelal, Volodymyr Dudka, Azamat Eyupov, Tymur Ibragimov, Ihor Kiiashko, Emir-Usein Kuku, Khalil Mambetov, Rustem Murasov, Zekirya Muratov, Ruslan Nagayev, Enver Omerov, Oleh Prykhodko, Amet Suleymanov, Shaban Umerov, Rustem Sheikhaliyev, Yashar Shykhametov, Ivan Yatskin.

According to human rights activist and journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva, Azamat Eyupov, aged 60, suffered four strokes in a Russian detention centre, Volodymyr Dudka, aged 58, was sentenced to 14 years in prison despite having a stomach condition and high blood pressure, and Amet Suleymanov, aged 38, was detained despite needing a heart valve replacement.

"They don't have the time or energy to fight the bureaucratic struggle with the Russian penitentiary system. We cannot leave them alone with this, they should not die slowly in prison," Zudiyeva said.