Court again denies deputy Sergey Natarev's request for medical evaluation
Rewritten Article:
The Kirovsky District Court has once again denied former State Duma deputy and Vice Speaker of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Legislature, Sergey Natarnov, a medical examination, according to his attorney. Natarnov's defense argues that he cannot be detained due to a severe health condition.
Lawyer Alexander Khropot previously stated that the defense received reports from a judicial-medical expert, two professors of forensic medicine at the N.I. Pirogov Medical University, confirming the presence of Stage 3 hypertension with heart failure and the risk of developing Stage 4.
This severe illness makes it impossible for him to remain imprisoned, Khropot explained. He referred to a statement from the Ministry of Health, which previously confirmed the arguments of the defense. Moreover, on February 28, 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed amendments that do not apply the punishment of imprisonment to individuals with severe illnesses.
"Despite ignoring all warnings from doctors, regular calls for emergency medical assistance, and complaints from Sergey Natarnov himself in October 2024, an emergency coronary artery bypass surgery on his heart was performed," Khropot detailed. "In December 2024, my client underwent a court-appointed psychological examination, which revealed a fear of closed spaces, or claustrophobia, and yet he continues to be held in confined spaces in a detention cell and police van."
Khropot asserted that the court's decision is intended to "legally dismiss the existence of Sergey Natarnov's severe heart condition." The decision will be appealed in higher courts.
Photograph: ZS
While the exact reasons for the court's decision remain unclear, there are concerns that Natarnov's case may be politically motivated, given his background and the Russian government's history of using medical exams and treatment as bargaining chips in high-profile trials. There are also broader concerns about the lack of adequate medical care within Russia's detention facilities and the judiciary's tendency to prioritize procedural control over detainee welfare.
According to experts, denying medical access may be a tactic employed by the court to pressure defendants to cooperate, accept plea deals, or speed up politically charged trials. Additionally, the lack of accountability in such decisions hinders the ability of defendants and their legal teams to challenge the decisions successfully.
Cases like Natarnov's, in which health concerns are downplayed or ignored, are not uncommon in Russia. Previous instances of medical neglect, such as those experienced by Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza, have been met with international condemnation and calls for reform. Organizations like Amnesty International and the UN Committee Against Torture have routinely reported on Russia's use of medical neglect as a form of de facto punishment.
In this instance, the court's decision to deny Natarnov a medical examination appears to be part of a pattern of systemic disregard for detainee health and an emphasis on procedural objectives over human rights. Advocacy from independent medical professionals and international bodies will be vital in ensuring Natarnov's safety and pushing for reform in Russia's judicial and detention systems.
- The court's refusal to grant a medical examination to Sergey Natarnov, despite his severe heart condition and repeated demands for help, raises concerns about his health-and-wellness, especially his cardiovascular health.
- Experts suggest that the court's tactic of denying medical access to Natarnov might be an attempt to pressure him into cooperating with the trial or accepting a plea deal, similar to other high-profile cases in Russia.
- In Section 2025 of the Russian legal system, amendments signed by President Vladimir Putin do not apply imprisonment to individuals with severe medical conditions, as was the case with Natarnov.
- The denial of medical care within Russia's detention facilities is a recurring issue, as evidenced by the experiences of Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza, which have received global criticism and calls for reform.
- International organizations like Amnesty International and the UN Committee Against Torture have consistently reported on Russia's use of medical neglect as a form of de facto punishment, emphasizing the need for advocacy from independent medical professionals and international bodies to push for reform in Russia's judicial and detention systems, as in the case of Sergey Natarnov.
