You're reading: Journalist reports Crimean activist Balukh not provided with medical aid in jail

Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh does not receive medical assistance in Simferopol’s detention center, journalist Anton Naumlyuk has reported on Facebook.

“Balukh is in Simferopol’s detention center, in a transit cell in a penal colony, so there is no order in the cell. His condition remains grave, but there is no medical assistance,” he wrote.

According to Naumlyuk, therefore, lawyer Olha Dinze, who visited Balukh on Jan. 19-20, filed a complaint against the court’s decision on the measure of restraint separately from a complaint against the verdict, which will later be filed by the defense team and Balukh.

“The measure of restraint in the form of house arrest was the best option of detention for him if we talk about the provision of medical assistance. The judge ruled that Balukh could be transferred to the penal colony only under escort, arguing that he could try to avoid punishment. At the same time, he, awaiting the conviction, did not attempt to escape from house arrest, and there is no reason to state this,” Naumlyuk quoted Dinze as saying.

He also noted that in the second case on “disorganizing the activity of institutions that ensure isolation from society” under Article 321 of the Russian Criminal Code, charged against Balukh had been brought again. While the case is not considered, Balukh will not be moved anywhere, he added.

“Moreover, there is a high probability that the first case on ‘acquiring and storing explosives’ will be sent again for another third revision, now, perhaps, to Krasnoperekopsk,” Naumlyuk said.