Journalist in Russia admitted to hospital following alleged self-harm incident in detention center
Journalist Maria Ponomarenko Hospitalized After Alleged Abuse in Russian Prison
Maria Ponomarenko, an independent journalist working for RusNews, has been hospitalized following a series of alleged abuses in a Russian penal colony.
Since the large-scale offensive against Ukraine began in February 2022, Russian authorities have significantly intensified their repression of dissenting voices. Ponomarenko, who has been vocal in her criticism of Russia's actions, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2023 for spreading false information about the Russian army.
In April 2023, Ponomarenko was transferred to another penal colony where she alleges guards abused her. She denies the accusations of assaulting prison guards and claims she was assaulted by guards instead. Her health reportedly deteriorated as a result, according to her support group on Telegram. Ponomarenko led a hunger strike in April, which led to a further decline in her health.
Ponomarenko's lawyer, Dmitri Chitov, reported that she needed a blood transfusion. Her condition is described as satisfactory but not optimal. She has been in a medical facility for detainees since August 12.
Ponomarenko's detention conditions have been a subject of concern. Her lawyer described them as torture, while Ponomarenko herself claims she suffered a nervous breakdown due to her detention conditions. She was placed in solitary confinement in a noisy, unsanitary cell with rats.
Hundreds of people have been imprisoned and dozens of NGOs and media outlets have been banned by Russian authorities since February 2022. Ponomarenko was sentenced to an additional one year and 10 months in prison in March 2023, following accusations of assaulting prison guards.
Ponomarenko gained attention in 2022 when she published a post denouncing strikes on civilian refugees in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. She was hospitalized after attempting suicide three times, although specific details about these events are not readily available.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns about the treatment of political prisoners in Russia and the suppression of free speech in the country.
The general news of Maria Ponomarenko's hospitalization due to alleged abuses in a Russian prison is being closely watched, especially in the context of aggressive Russian politics and intensified repression against dissenting voices, particularly since the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine. Furthermore, the crime-and-justice system seems to be a significant part of this issue, as Ponomarenko's ongoing legal struggles suggest a pattern of questionable treatment of political prisoners in Russia, fueling concerns about the country's commitment to upholding human rights and freedom of speech.
