URGENT ACTION

IMPRISONED NURSE DENIED HEALTHCARE 
Irina Danilovich, a nurse and human rights activist from Russian-occupied Crimea was abducted by Russian security service on 29 April 2022 and held incommunicado until 11 May. Her health has progressively deteriorated for months, and she started a hunger strike in protest against the denial of healthcare. Her life is in danger. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

Tatiana Moskalkova 
Human Rights Commissioner 
Smolensky Boulevard, 19с2
119121 Moscow
Russian Federation 
Email: Moskalkova@ombudsmanrf.ru
 A.Ovchinnikova@rightsrf.ru
 A.Scherbakova@rightsrf.ru

Dear Human Rights Commissioner,

I am writing to ask you to take action in support of the nurse Irina Danilovich, who has been wrongfully imprisoned in Crimea in retribution for her criticism of the healthcare system and for exposing corruption. Currently held in Simferopol SIZO-1, she has been on hunger strike since 20 March in protest against the denial of the healthcare she requires. 

According to Irina Danilovich, during her time in captivity, she was subjected to torture or other ill-treatment by her captors to force her to “confess” to state treason. Failing to achieve this, they, according to Irina Danilovich, tampered with her personal belongings where they planted explosives, that were used to prosecute and convict her under Article 222.1(1) of the Russian Criminal Code. 

During her trial, the court manifestly ignored her allegations of secret detention, torture and other ill-treatment, and admitted evidence acquired by unlawful means. 

For months, Irina Danilovich has been complaining of severe, worsening ear pain, but has been denied the healthcare she requires. Currently, she continues to be held in arbitrary detention, the conditions of her detention may amount to torture or other inhumane and degrading treatment, and her life is in danger. 

I urge you to ensure that Irina Danilovich: 
- is released immediately, is acquitted of the crime she did not commit, and that her ongoing prosecution on state treason charges is discontinued;
- immediately receives medical treatment she requires;  
- pending her release, she has access to adequate healthcare, provided in compliance with medical
ethics, including the principles of confidentiality, autonomy and informed consent, and is protected from torture and other ill-treatment.

Yours sincerely,

Additional information

People who have opposed the Russian occupation and illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula and the human rights violations committed there since 2014 have faced persecution, including harassment, intimidation, prosecution under trumped-up charges and enforced disappearances. International human rights monitors do not have access to Crimea and independent media are either banned in Crimea or have been forced to shut down, access to their online platforms blocked on the peninsula and in Russia.
Irina Danilovich is a civic activist and a human rights defender who has been exposing problems of the healthcare system in Crimea. She was very vocal and publicly condemned cases of politically motivated prosecution, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention of human rights defenders and other activists. 
On 29 April 2022, Irina Danilovich was abducted in Koktebel, Crimea, by members of Russia’s security forces. Her fate and whereabouts were unknown to her family and lawyer until 11 May. According to Irina Danilovich, she was repeatedly threatened with secret execution, and spent most of this time locked up in a basement, in inhumane conditions, and subjected to torture or other ill-treatment. Her trial commenced on 22 August 2022 at Feodosia City Court and was fraught with numerous fair trial violations. On 28 December 2022, she was sentenced to seven years of prison and a fine of 50,000 Roubles (US$ 720) under Article 222.1(1) of the Russian Criminal Code (illegal purchase, transfer, storage and transportation of explosive substances or explosive devices). She remains a criminal suspect under high treason charges.
Early during her trial, Irina Danilovich complained of severe ear pain, and stated that she was unable to follow the proceedings and asked for adjournment but was refused. Her medical condition has progressively deteriorated since, but she was seen by penitentiary paramedics and refused the healthcare she required. She commenced a hunger strike on 20 March in protest.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Russian, English
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 23 May 2023
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Irina Danilovich [she/her]

Additional TARGET

Mr Andrei Kelin  
Embassy of the Russian Federation (Main Building)
6/7 Kensington Palace Gardens, London, W8 4QP
Fax: 020 7727 8625 
Email: kanc@rusemb.org.uk 
Web: www.rusemb.org.uk