Press Release, 17.10.2025

Photo: Yevgenia Lomakova / Photo from social media

A terminally ill 20-year-old Muscovite Yevgenia Lomakova, who suffers from cystic fibrosis — a genetic disease in which the body gradually “blocks up” the lungs and digestive organs — could die in a remand prison. The young woman has been in detention for many months, which is unacceptable with her diagnosis. The courts first imposed a preventive measure in the form of detention, and then sentenced her to an actual term in a penal colony, which Yevgenia may not live to see the end of.

The Moscow branch of the Yabloko party has issued an urgent statement demanding freedom for the terminally ill young woman. It includes, in particular, a reference to the norms of Russian legislation:

“The disease from which the young woman suffers is included in the list of serious diseases that prevent both detention and serving a sentence (resolutions by the Government of the Russian Federation Resolutions No. 54 of 6 February 2004 and No. 3 of 14 January 2011). Despite the provisions of these resolutions, the court left the young woman in custody without access to necessary treatment, effectively condemning her to death.

Yevgenia Lomakova’s continued stay in the remand prison threatens her life.

The principle of humanity underlying the criminal law of the Russian Federation (Article 7 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and Article 9 of the Criminal Procedure Code) excludes cruel treatment of the accused and convicted, treatment that causes them physical suffering.”

Semyon Kovalyov, a member of the Smolensk Bureau of the party, appealed to the Russian Federation Commissioner for Human Rights Tatyana Moskalkova with a request to intervene in the situation.

“I earnestly ask you to promptly intervene in this situation, not to let the girl die and to give public disclosure and assessment of the court’s decision,” Kovalyov’s appeal runs. “I also ask you to consider grounds for bringing to account persons who deliberately send a person to certain death in a penal colony with a diagnosis that excludes imprisonment as such.”

Kovalyov emphasises that the case against Yevgenia could initially have been reclassified to a less serious charge, but the court ignored the arguments and demands of the defence.

Evgenia Lomakova was detained in 2024 under the “popular” drug charges — Article 228 of the Criminal Code. She was charged with possession of prohibited substances with intent to distribute, after which the young woman was placed in a remand prison, deprived of regular therapy and constant medical supervision.

By the time of sentencing in early October 2025, Yevgenia’s lung function had decreased almost by half — from 69% to 32%, her weight had dropped to 40 kg, and she requires an urgent transplant. Despite this, on 3 October, Lyublinsky Court in Moscow sentenced Yevgenia to six years in a penal colony, and on 16 October this sentence was upheld by Moscow City Court.

Speaking in court, Yevgenia admitted that she cannot imagine how she would be able to survive transfer to the penal colony. She said that cystic fibrosis patients usually know each other’s stories and understand that even whilst receiving therapy, many do not live to 25.