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Russian political scientist Alexander Kynev has started a hunger strike in pretrial detention, according to legal advocacy project Slovo Zashchite. His lawyer says Kynev cannot use the cell’s floor toilet because his leg is broken and the cell holds 35 people. Kynev denies the drug-sale charge he faces; details of any transfer or medical response have not been reported.
Russian political scientist Alexander Kynev has started a hunger strike in pretrial detention because, his lawyer says, he cannot use the toilet in his overcrowded cell while his leg is broken. The legal advocacy project Slovo Zashchite reported the strike, saying Kynev shares the cell with 34 other people and is refusing food over the conditions.
Lawyer Mikhail Biryukov said the cell has a hole in the floor rather than a standard toilet, and Kynev cannot use it because his leg is in a cast after being broken in two places. Biryukov said the legal team had sought to have Kynev moved to a facility that could accommodate his medical needs. The report does not say whether officials agreed to transfer him.
Kynev has been held since September 25 on charges of attempting to sell drugs, which he denies. Slovo Zashchite previously reported that he was severely beaten during his arrest and suffered the leg fractures. That account is attributed to the advocacy project; the report does not provide an official account of the arrest or independently establish how the injuries occurred.
Political scientist Ekaterina Schulmann has said Kynev was beaten to force him to confess to treason. This is her allegation, not a finding established in the report. The immediate development described by the lawyer is Kynev’s hunger strike and the request to move him to a place suited to his medical condition.
Cell Conditions and Medical Access
The reported strike focuses attention on access to basic sanitation and medical accommodation for a detainee with a serious injury. If the account is accurate, Kynev’s inability to use the cell toilet is affecting his ability to eat and his day-to-day care while he remains in custody.
The case also carries legal stakes because Kynev is detained before trial and denies the drug-sale charge. His lawyer’s request for a move places the next practical question on whether detention officials will respond to his reported physical needs. The available report does not establish the authorities’ position or whether a transfer has occurred.
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Kynev’s Detention Since September
Kynev has been in custody since September 25. The current report identifies the allegation against him as attempting to sell drugs and says he denies it. It does not provide further details about the charge, evidence, court proceedings or a trial schedule.
Slovo Zashchite had earlier reported that Kynev was severely beaten during his arrest, leaving him with a leg broken in two places. Schulmann separately alleged the beating was intended to force a confession to treason. Those accounts are claims attributed to the people and organization reporting them; the supplied information contains no response from law enforcement or investigators.
““There’s a hole in the floor [of the cell] instead of a toilet, and he can’t use it because his leg is in a cast after being broken in two places.””
— Mikhail Biryukov, Kynev’s lawyer
Transfer and Official Response
The report does not establish whether detention officials have responded to the request for a transfer, whether Kynev has received additional medical care, or how long he has been refusing food. It also does not include a response from the authorities about the cell conditions or the allegations surrounding his arrest.
The reported beating and its alleged motive remain claims attributed to Slovo Zashchite and Schulmann. The available information does not provide an independent account of Kynev’s injuries, the circumstances of his arrest, or the evidence behind the charges. Kynev’s denial of the drug-sale allegation is reported, but the case’s procedural status beyond his pretrial detention is not specified.
Whether Officials Arrange a Move
The immediate next development is whether Kynev is moved to a facility or cell that can accommodate his broken leg and allow him to use the toilet. His lawyer said efforts to secure a transfer were under way, but no outcome was reported.
Further updates would need to clarify Kynev’s health and the duration of the hunger strike, as well as any official response to the reported conditions and arrest injuries. The supplied report gives no date for a court hearing or other milestone in the criminal case.
Key Questions
Why has Alexander Kynev started a hunger strike?
His lawyer, Mikhail Biryukov, says Kynev cannot use the floor toilet in his overcrowded cell because his leg is broken and in a cast.
How many people are in Kynev’s cell?
Biryukov says Kynev shares the cell with 34 other people, making 35 people in total.
What charges does Kynev face?
He is in pretrial detention on a charge of attempting to sell drugs. Kynev denies the charge.
Has Kynev been transferred to another cell or facility?
The report does not confirm a transfer. Biryukov said the legal team had sought to move Kynev to a place that could meet his medical needs.
What is known about Kynev’s injuries?
Slovo Zashchite previously reported that Kynev was beaten during his arrest and broke his leg in two places. The report attributes the account to the advocacy project and does not include an official response or independent confirmation.
Source: meduza.io
