Andrey Vlasov Still in Colony Despite his Progressive Serious Illness. Why?

Andrey Vlasov, a disabled person of group II, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for his Christian beliefs. Neither his state of health, nor lengthy litigation in various instances helped him to achieve mitigation of his sentence. He is still serving his sentence in conditions that make his life almost unbearable.

In May 2022, Andrey was taken into custody and placed in a pre-trial detention center, where he seriously suffered from pneumonia. In October of the same year, he was sent to a penal colony. There, in just 7 months, his condition deteriorated markedly: arthrosis of the shoulder and knee joints of the second degree progressed to the third degree. He was later diagnosed with tuberculosis. In the spring of 2023, Vlasov was diagnosed with coronary heart disease. A medical examination conducted in April 2024 confirmed another serious disease of the musculoskeletal system: ankylosis of the hip joint.

The defense had a package of medical documents confirming his condition, including the conclusion of a neurosurgeon, according to which Vlasov suffers from another extremely serious disease — absolute spinal stenosis of the spinal canal, which, according to the specialist, requires surgical treatment. According to the surgeon, if such an operation is not performed, it can lead to complete paralysis of the limbs and ischemic stroke of the spinal cord.

At the trial on the believer's appeal against the decision of the Pervomaisk District Court of Novosibirsk of August 3, 2023, which refused to satisfy the petition for release due to illness, Vlasov spoke in detail about how his condition deteriorated during his imprisonment and about his daily difficulties. Due to the immobility of the joints and constant pain, he cannot raise his arms, wash his hair, and can hardly put on underwear.

Andrey cannot walk without a cane and crutch, as he has already fallen several times, and he cannot get up on his own. Also, he cannot carry objects from place to place, such as carrying groceries from the store and a tray of food in the dining room. Ordinary everyday activities provoke severe pain, due to which the man sometimes cannot even fall asleep.

The court of appeal did not take into account the evidence showing that the believer could not take care of himself and needed constant help and medical care. Also, the court did not pay attention to serious errors in the work of two medical commissions, which came to the conclusion that the convict did not have diseases specified in the List of diseases.

Andrey Vlasov is not the only Jehovah's Witness with a disability who is being prosecuted in modern Russia for believing in God. This and other similar cases demonstrate the indifference of the judicial system to the suffering of convicts and a gross violation of human rights.