A resident of the temporarily occupied Oleshky, Serhiy Kotov, who is being illegally held in Correctional Colony No. 10 in Saratov, Russia, is in critical condition after enduring torture.
This was told to the ZMINA outlet by Serhiy Kotov’s daughter, Viktoriya Barabash.
Recently Viktoriya learned that her father fainted and injured his painful leg, which became swollen at the knee. There is a possibility of meniscus damage. This happened after he was transferred this summer to Colony No. 10, where he initially walked on crutches due to injured feet received as a result of torture.
According to Viktoriya, although Serhiy “received some treatment” and now uses canes, he is not provided with proper medical care in the Russian colony: instead of examinations or treatment they only offer blood pressure pills.
“The situation is worsening, and I urgently ask that attention be paid to this fact, because his health is critical. I want to remind you that my father has a disability, osteomyelitis, osteoporosis, hepatitis C and pancreatitis. After the torture he constantly has high blood pressure and a concussion,” – Viktoriya shares.
Despite the harsh conditions, constant “surveillance” and periodic placement in solitary confinement, Serhiy Kotov remains dignified. This was told to Viktoriya by a civilian recently released from Russian captivity, who was in the same cell with Kotov at Saratov Colony No. 23. He confirmed that the man does not give in, does not lose faith and tries to support other unlawfully detained prisoners.
Serhiy Kotov was abducted by Russian occupiers in April 2022 in Oleshky.
He was transferred to occupied Crimea, where he was held without charges and without access to a lawyer.
In September 2023 an illegal court in temporarily occupied Crimea sentenced the man to 15 years in prison on a fabricated case of alleged “espionage”.