The lawyer described the conditions of Roman Melnychenko's detention in the SIZO as torturous.

Lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov reported the use of torture against lawyer and human rights activist Roman Melnychenko, who is being held in the SIZO-5 of the city of Leninsk in the Volgograd region. Roman's chronic illnesses have worsened, and he is not receiving medical assistance. The lawyer's complaint is being considered by the regional FSIN.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", after a search, former lecturer of Volgograd State University, lawyer Roman Melnychenko was detained. The reason for the detention was a post on social media, which the security forces interpreted as discrediting the army. He has been arrested for two months. At the end of August, it became known that after refusing to sign a contract to participate in the SVO, Melnychenko was forced to run in SIZO-5 Leninsk. He appealed to the head of the institution with a request to formalize his disability.

Roman Melnychenko is defended by two lawyers. One of them, Dmitry Sotnikov, informed the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" about the health condition of his client and the conditions of his detention in SIZO-5 of the city of Leninsk. Dmitry reminded the journalist that in the last letter received from Melnychenko, the censor erased a phrase, which, however, could be read: "A recruiter for the SVO spoke to me. After I refused with the argument that I am Ukrainian, he punished me by forcing me to run."

From this fact, as well as due to the cold in the cell, which exacerbated Roman's chronic illnesses and the lack of medical assistance, the lawyer concluded that torture was being applied to Melnychenko.

"Roman also has poor eyesight. One eye practically cannot see. He did not manage to formalize his disability and submitted a request to the SIZO management. He reported other exacerbated illnesses. However, at the time of writing the letter, no measures had been taken. Having received permission from Roman to obtain documents containing medical confidentiality, I sent requests regarding Roman's health condition to the SIZO," added Dmitry Sotnikov.

After that, on August 11, Sotnikov sent a complaint to the head of the FSIN for the Volgograd region, Sergey Konovalov (available to the editorial office). In the complaint, the lawyer described the conditions of detention of the well-known expert in international law, candidate of legal sciences Roman Melnychenko as torturous.

"He is not receiving correspondence, he has been held in solitary confinement for three weeks and is in a special block for persons accused of terrorist-related crimes. He is in complete isolation. He is taken out for a walk once a day for 10-15 minutes. He is not provided with any books. Melnychenko is not given or provided with clothing: for more than three weeks he has not been provided with clothing and the clothes he bought in the SIZO store have not been delivered. My client was brought to me in the same clothes he was wearing three weeks ago when he was detained," the lawyer's complaint states.

Dmitry Sotnikov informed the regional department's management about the exacerbation of chronic illnesses in his client (listing these illnesses). The reason for the exacerbation is the cold in the cell. "The windows in the cell do not close. At night it was so cold that he had to escape from the cold in the toilet," the lawyer indicated.

Citing the Convention against Torture... (adopted by resolution 39/46 of the General Assembly on December 10, 1984, and ratified by the USSR on January 21, 1987), Dmitry Sotnikov reminded Major General Konovalov of the definition of the term "torture" - "it is any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person, in order to obtain from him... information or a confession, to punish him for an act he has committed... or in which he is suspected of having committed... when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official..." "No exceptional circumstances, <...> may be invoked as a justification of torture," stated Dmitry Sotnikov in the complaint.

The lawyer asked the head of the FSIN to take measures to eliminate the torturous conditions of Roman Melnychenko's detention in SIZO-5. A response from the head of the department, Konovalov, has not yet been received.

The IA "Caucasian Knot" also sent an editorial request to the FSIN for the Volgograd region, proposing to investigate the facts of torture against Roman Melnychenko and information about violations of the conditions of his detention in SIZO-5 of the city of Leninsk. Sergey Konovalov has not yet reported on the results of the investigation.

"This complaint was submitted the day after my visit to the SIZO to Roman. It describes everything he told me during our first meeting. Literally on the day the complaint was submitted, he was given packages with food and clothing and letters. To date, my appeals have not been considered, the deadline for them is one month from the date of submission," Sotnikov told the correspondent.

Dmitry also noted that Melnychenko's defenders are cooperating with the Centre de la protection internationale regarding appeals to UN bodies. However, an official appeal to this international body is only possible after complaints have been submitted to all national instances.

In the investigative and judicial processes, the second lawyer of Roman Melnychenko, whose name is not disclosed, is involved. This lawyer does not communicate with journalists. Roman Melnychenko's relatives also do not give interviews.