Historian Yuri Dmitriev in critical condition in Russian prison

Russian historian Yuri Dmitriev, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, is reportedly in critical condition. Human rights organizations, including Zaprava and Memorial, state that the 70-year-old has been transferred from a penal colony in the Mordovia republic to a prison hospital due to a suspected stroke.

Dmitriev is known for uncovering the Sandarmoch execution site, where approximately 10,000 people were killed by Soviet secret services during the Stalin era. Human rights advocates and the European Union have characterized his imprisonment as a result of judicial arbitrariness, noting that his legal battles regarding the alleged mistreatment of his adopted daughter have led to his long-term incarceration.

Advocates have reported that legal counsel has been denied access to Dmitriev, with officials only confirming that he remains alive. Human rights groups are calling for his transfer to a well-equipped municipal hospital to ensure proper medical care.