Cases have been reported of Covid-19 in the Russian SIZO or remand prison in Rostov-on-Don where at least three Ukrainian political prisoners are currently held. All Russian SIZOs are notoriously filthy, unsanitary and overcrowded, meaning that the prisoners are without any protection against the potentially deadly virus. Russia is now endangering the lives of three men – Crimean Tatars Eskender Abdulganiev and Arsen Abkhairov, and Ukrainian Jehovah’s Witness Serhiy Filatov who are all imprisoned solely for their faith.
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Halya Coynash: COVID-19 outbreak in Russian prison holding Ukrainian prisoners of conscience
People hold placards with portraits of Ukrainian citizens jailed in Crimea and Russia during their action "Mr. President, talk to us" outside the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on May 21, 2020. Relatives of the prisoners demand that president Zelensky should implement his promise to exchange the prisoners "one-on-one" and return them back to Ukraine.