In Russian prison, Crimean journalist Iryna Danilovych is being threatened with murder by other inmates, - human rights activists
Iryna Danilovych, a Crimean journalist and human rights activist who is being held by Russia in Women’s Prison No. 7 in Zelenokumsk, Stavropol Krai, is regularly threatened with death by other inmates. According to her sister, the inmates tell Danilovych that they will not be held accountable even if they kill her.
According to Censor.NET, this is mentioned in a publication by the ‘Archipelago of the Federal Penitentiary Service’ project, part of the ‘Letters to Prison’ initiative.
According to human rights activists, threats are being made in the presence of staff from the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation, yet they are not responding to them. The journalist’s sister, Olha Novytska, believes that, following complaints about the prison staff’s behaviour, the prison administration has changed its tactics for putting pressure on Danilovich.
Human rights activists report that there are two convicted prisoners in the same cell as the journalist, who regularly threaten her.
"They clearly feel they have complete impunity and tacit encouragement from the prison administration. In their threats against Iryna, they constantly emphasise that they will face no consequences for her murder," said Novytska.
Furthermore, she says that loud music is constantly being played right next to Danilovych. As the journalist’s sister points out, the use of a radio is prohibited under the prison’s rules, yet the guards do not intervene.
Loud noises cause Danilovych acute pain due to a serious ear condition that developed following inadequate treatment within the Russian prison system.
Danilovych herself had previously spoken of other methods of coercion used in the prison – being made to stand on the parade ground for hours on end, loud music and bright lights in the barracks. According to her, the floodlights are switched on so that the light shines through even a sleep mask and closed eyes, and in the morning the guards turn the music up to full volume.
The journalist also reported on the poor living conditions at VK-7. According to her, in winter, ice forms on the walls of the barracks due to inadequate heating; in summer, the premises become overheated; and prisoners face problems with water, food, sanitary conditions and access to showers.
Human rights activists had previously reported that another prisoner had been used to put pressure on Danilovych in the Russian prison colony.
In addition, the international organisation ‘Reporters Without Borders’, in conjunction with the US-based Human Rights Foundation, referred the case of Iryna Danilovych to six UN special rapporteurs. The organisations called for urgent action due to the deterioration in the journalist’s health.
