Statement by the Saratov branch of Yabloko, 10.04.2020

To the Federal Penitentiary Service;

To the Federal State-Funded Institution Pre-Trial Detention Facility No 1

Of the Department of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in the Samara region

The Saratov regional branch of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko is deeply concerned about the health condition of the arrested Saratov political activist Sergei Ryzhov and strongly protests the inaction of the structures of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, which cause undeniable harm to his health.

Sergei Ryzhov was detained in November 2017 in the so-called Artpodgotovka [movement] case. Since then, Ryzhov who is the accused under the article “Preparation for the commission of an act of terror” has been held in custody in Samara. As a result of an accident (according to his mother) that occurred in the Samara pre-trial detention centre on 5 November, 2019, the political activist was injured – he got a hip fracture. During the entire period since the accident, the required treatment of the fracture has not been carried out. At the moment, this leads to a situation of irreversible physiological changes.

Despite all the political disagreements with Sergei Ryzhov, the Saratov branch of the Russian United Democratic Party Yabloko considers everything that has been happening to be reprisals against the political activist and demands that urgent medical care be provided to him.

Ksenia Sverdlova,

Chair of the Saratov branch of Yabloko