Former municipal deputy Alexey Gorinov claims he may have been poisoned while imprisoned in Altai Krai, as a court denied his lawyer's request to reopen his criminal case.
Key facts
- •Alexey Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in 2022 for proposing a moment of silence for victims of the war in Ukraine.
- •He faces an additional prison term following a separate conviction for 'justifying terrorism' based on inmate conversations.
- •The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found 11 violations in the handling of Gorinov's case.
- •Gorinov is currently classified by prison authorities as an escape risk and as prone to suicide, arson, and extremism.
- •The Moscow City Court upheld the prosecution's refusal to reopen the criminal case.
Former Moscow municipal deputy Alexey Gorinov stated during a Moscow City Court hearing that he may have been poisoned. Appearing via video link from a penal colony in Altai Krai, Gorinov also reported that prison officials are ignoring his requests for medical care. The court rejected his lawyer's appeal to reopen his criminal case and denied his request for assistance in obtaining treatment.
By the numbers
Legal challenges and UN findings
Defense attorney Yekaterina Tertukhina argued that the case should be reopened based on a decision by the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The panel identified 11 procedural violations and determined that Gorinov’s imprisonment was arbitrary on three grounds. Tertukhina stated that Russian courts have not addressed these findings and that prosecutors failed to consider the defense's arguments.
Health and prison conditions
Gorinov, 65, has a history of serious health issues, including a 2016 lung removal due to tuberculosis. During his incarceration, he has suffered from pneumonia and bronchitis, and his lawyer reported in 2025 that doctors discovered new tuberculosis lesions. In early 2026, he spent six weeks in an unheated cell, which led to a recurrence of bronchitis. Additionally, prison officials have placed him on multiple preventive watchlists, subjecting him to frequent checks that disrupt his sleep.
Timeline
- 2016Gorinov was diagnosed with tuberculosis and underwent partial lung removal.
- 2022Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in a penal colony.
- 2025Lawyers reported that doctors found new tuberculosis lesions.
- February 2026Gorinov spent a month and a half in an unheated cell and developed bronchitis.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Meduza (English).
