The health of Crimean citizen journalist and political prisoner Amet Suleimanov, who was sentenced by Russia to 12 years in a penal colony, has deteriorated. His wife, Lilia Lumanova, reported this after visiting him at the penal colony in the city of Vladimir on June 24.

“His blood pressure rose to 230. He has a rash on his body and dental problems,” said Lumanova.

​​Amet Suleimanov suffers from aortic and mitral valve insufficiency and urgently requires heart valve replacement surgery. His wife also reported that the day after visiting Amet, she approached the head of the penal colony to discuss the need for immediate surgery. Despite critical blood pressure readings and evident symptoms, he is not receiving the necessary medical care. The unlawfully imprisoned journalist is in urgent need of life-saving surgery.

Amet Suleimanov was detained by the occupation administration in March 2020. He was unlawfully accused of “terrorism” and, despite his serious health condition, remained in custody throughout the trial. His legal team repeatedly emphasized that detention was incompatible with his state of health. Nevertheless, this was not taken into consideration — in 2023, he was sentenced to 12 years in a high-security penal colony. Amet Suleimanov was unlawfully transferred to the “Vladimir Central” prison in the city of Vladimir.