You're reading: Lutsenko exhausted, but still has sense of humor, says his wife

Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko is exhausted and practically bedridden, and is constantly on a drip to support his body, his wife, Iryna, has said.

"He underwent an electrocardiogram. He has tachycardia. His heart rate has significantly increased. Yura has been on a drip since yesterday, and is always in bed. The last time he got up so as not to be carried on a stretcher was when he underwent an MRI," she told reporters on Thursday after she visited her husband in hospital, where he stays under guard in the acute poisoning department.

She also said that doctors "confirmed his diagnosis of diabetes mellitus type 2, gastroduodenitis, and pancreatitis." She said that doctors did not say how long Lutsenko should undergo medical treatment in hospital.

"He’s lost over 20 kilograms in weight, and he’s exhausted. They’re continuously feeding his body with the help of drips," the ex-minister’s wife said, adding that such a worsening of his health was caused by a long hunger strike (21 days).

Lutsenko said that her husband complained of pain in his heart.

"You know, the man is exhausted, seriously exhausted. I understand that he just cannot get up. He’s always lying [saying that he can]," she said.

Lutsenko noted that her husband had asked journalists "not to rush and not to gather near the hospital, as this hampers the work of the hospital." At the same time, she added that her husband was grateful for her moral support, and that of the press.

Lutsenko noted that her husband even tried to joke about the fact that there are some benefits of being escorted by guards, as he can undergo medical procedures without having to stand in a queue.