On August 14, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) notified the defense of Igor Baryshnikov, who was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison in the “war fakes” case, that it had taken interim measures for the duration of his case — obliging Russian authorities “to provide comprehensive and appropriate medical care, to provide immediate medical assistance, and to ensure the inviolability of his life and psyche.” This was reported by Baryshnikov’s lawyer from OVD-Info, Maria Bontsler.
"Russia has a responsibility to treat and preserve Baryshnikov's life while his case is being investigated. We'll see how it reacts," Bontzler said when asked whether the international organization's decision would affect the situation.
On August 11, the defense asked the committee to take urgent measures against Baryshnikov, namely, to oblige Russia to perform the operation prescribed by the doctor, provide him with effective painkillers, conduct an examination for cancer, and inform Baryshnikov of the results of this examination.
Since March, Igor Baryshnikovhas been delaying an operation that would eliminate the need for a cystostomy .
The Human Rights Committee is considering a complaint about the violation of Baryshnikov's right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment. The defense believes that the failure to provide medical assistance can be described as such.
In July 2023, Baryshnikov was found guilty of disseminating "fakes" about the army motivated by political hatred (paragraph "d" of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) due to posts with information about the war, including the killings of Ukrainian civilians. At that time, he was sentenced to 7.5 years in a general regime colony. In November 2023, the Kaliningrad Regional Court upheld the sentence. The defense demanded that the sentence be overturned due to the man's health: Baryshnikov is suspected of having cancer, and he has a catheter in his bladder. In prison, his health began to rapidly deteriorate. Despite this, the court did not listen to the lawyers, and during the hearing, the prosecutor presented a conclusion from the Kaliningrad Regional Hospital that Baryshnikov could be in prison.
In December, the convict was transferred to IK-8 in the Kaliningrad Region. By the end of December, his condition, according to lawyers, was critical: Baryshnikov experienced severe pain in the groin area, and his hands had turned black due to fungus. Only in January, after a large-scale public campaign, did he begin to receive minimal medical care.
14:51 The appointment with the urologist, where a decision on whether to perform surgery on Baryshnikov, has not yet taken place, although it was scheduled for August 7. The convict only had his cytostomy changed, said his lawyer from OVD-Info, Maria Bontsler.
- OVD-Info reported in detail the story of Igor Baryshnikov and his 96-year-old mother Evgenia, whom the man was caring for. The woman died on August 7, 2023, shortly after her son was sentenced and taken into custody. The convicted man was not released for the funeral. After his death, the appellate court upheld the decision to transfer the woman to guardianship authorities.