The conditions of detention in the special detention center for human rights activist and leader of the movement “For Human Rights” Lev Ponomarev comply with the law, but cause him “serious suffering.” This was stated by Andrei Babushkin, a member of the Human Rights Council who visited him, Interfax reports.

Ponomarev is kept in a cell with 12 places, it is cramped and there are people who smoke, Babushkin said. According to him, there are still beds in which the mattress is sinking, but Ponomarev needs to replace it. The food in the special detention center is “weak,” Babushkin added.

“It is psychologically difficult for a person to be in a cell for 12 people; there is no opportunity to retire or sit down to work, and for a 77-year-old man, a scientist, a public figure, of course, this is extremely difficult,” Babushkin said. He added that it is unlikely that staying in a special detention center will have a positive effect on Ponomarev’s health: “I would not call the conditions tortured, but the fact that this is cruel treatment is true.” According to Babushkin, the human rights activist himself is “cheerful and energetic.”

77-year-old Ponomarev was arrested for 25 days for a post about an action in support of those involved in the Network and New Greatness cases. The human rights activist was found guilty of repeated violation of the established procedure for organizing or holding events (Part 8 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code) due to the fact that he called for participation in the uncoordinated action “For our and your children”, which took place on October 28 near the FSB building on Lubyanka in Moscow, as well as in St. Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Voronezh and Penza. Both cases were fabricated, and testimony was given under torture, Ponomarev believes.

Ten defendants in the New Greatness case are accused of organizing an extremist community. According to investigators, the accused planned to carry out a coup d'état and seize power in the country. Community members do not admit guilt. The defense claims that the initiators of the movement were an employee of Center “E” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and two of his informants.

The case against an organization called “Network” was initiated last fall. Eleven people were arrested in this case - three St. Petersburg residents and eight Penza residents. They are accused of participating in a terrorist community and preparing unrest in the country. Several defendants stated that they were forced to confess under torture.

Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Anna Pavlikova Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Anna Pavlikova Alexandra Zotova / Vedomosti Anna Pavlikova Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik Maxim Stulov / Vedomosti Maria Dubovik

The HRC called the conditions of detention of human rights activist Lev Ponomarev harsh