Political scientist Alexander Kynev has stopped eating in pretrial detention

Political scientist Alexander Kynev has stopped eating in pretrial detention

Kynev is currently held at SIZO-4 "Medved," where he has two tibia fractures and a cast. He was transferred to an overcrowded cell where there is a hole in the floor instead of a toilet. Kynev cannot use it while wearing a cast, so over the weekend he stopped eating.

His lawyers are trying to secure Kynev's transfer to conditions suitable for him.

Who is Alexander Kynev

Kynev is a political scientist who has worked on elections and regional politics for many years. He worked with the Golos movement and taught at the Higher School of Economics.

Kynev was detained on September 25 in a case involving attempted drug distribution. He does not admit guilt. After his detention, he was found to have two tibia fractures. According to Slovo Zashchite, the injuries may have resulted from torture.

Kynev was initially hospitalized at Matrosskaya Tishina, and in mid-October he was transferred to Medved. He could not move around properly there because he was not given crutches.

Meanwhile, Moscow's Federal Penitentiary Service recently said it had found no violations in the treatment of the political scientist.

UPDATE: Moscow's Federal Penitentiary Service said that Kynev had not filed a statement declaring a hunger strike. The political scientist's lawyer clarified to Mediazona that Kynev decided not to eat while he is unable to use the toilet in his cell because of his cast.

Alexander Kynev / Photo: "Slovo Zashchite"

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