Human rights activists have alerted UN special rapporteurs to the disappearance of former municipal deputy Alexei Gorinov from a prison in Vladimir Oblast, as disclosed by the ‘Public Verdict’ foundation on December 18.
On December 18, ‘Public Verdict’ representatives submitted appeals to three UN special rapporteurs on extrajudicial executions, health, and Russia. Asmik Novikova, an expert from the foundation, emphasized the elevated risk of Alexei Gorinov's ‘preventable’ death due to health concerns and inadequate medical assistance.
"This is a case of death within a closed institution, such as a prison, which can be prevented with timely treatment and the avoidance of specific risks. Preventable deaths are considered a form of extrajudicial execution," explained Novikova.
Over 300 doctors and 70 current and former deputies endorsed appeals advocating for Alexei Gorinov’s protection.
In 2022, Gorinov received a seven-year prison sentence for disseminating military-related fake news (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The charges stemmed from the politician's proposal to observe a minute of silence for deceased Ukrainians during a municipal council meeting in Moscow.
In October 2023, law enforcers accused Gorinov of justifying terrorism (Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), leading to his transfer to a jail in Vladimir Oblast, where he was placed in solitary confinement.
The politician's disappearance from the Vladimir Oblast prison came to light on December 15. During his last meeting with his lawyer on December 8, Gorinov struggled to sit or talk, nearly slipping from his chair. He complained about the prison doctor's refusal to provide medical treatment.
