Jailed Russian Activist Suffers Apparent Seizure After Torture Claims
Faizan Hashmi Published November 03, 2016 | 09:35 PM
MOSCOW, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Nov, 2016 ) - Jailed opposition Russian activist Ildar Dadin suffered a suspected seizure, his wife told AFP on Thursday, after his claims of being tortured in prison caused a scandal.
Dadin's wife Anastasia Zotova said activists who visited Dadin in his prison in northwestern Russia on Wednesday told her they had seen him suffer a "strange" episode "like an epileptic fit". The deputy head of Russia's prison service Valery Maksimenko, quoted by TASS state news agency, said that Dadin fell off a chair "in a fit" while being examined by doctors Wednesday.
"A discussion has begun about whether this was an epileptic seizure or they beat him into this state," Maksimenko said. Dadin, 34, came to prominence when he was handed a two-and-a-half year sentence under a controversial law that punishes repeated participation in unsanctioned rallies, after he demonstrated against President Vladimir Putin's rule.
In a letter to his wife this week, Dadin said that when he arrived at the prison in the Karelia region in September, staff beat and kicked him and put his head down a toilet bowl.
The torture claims prompted an unusually high-level reaction, with the Kremlin saying Wednesday that Putin had been informed.
The prison service said in a statement that Dadin was examined in a public hospital on Thursday and medics "did not find traumatic injuries and their consequences or other underlying conditions requiring medical assistance." The hospital's chief doctor Alexei Kheifets told tv Rain independent channel that an epileptic fit would not necessarily show up on scans, however.
Zotova told AFP her husband had never suffered from fits in the past. "The medics and experts I told about this told me the reason for the epilepsy could be that he was kicked in the head," she said. "I'm very nervous about my husband. I think they've done something awful to him."
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Dubai Mum Becomes the First Ever Pakistani Woman to Climb 11 of the 14 Highest M ..
Over 37% Tobacco tax increase suggested to save lives, boost revenue
Mohsin Naqvi has offered a substantial incentive, pledging $100,000 to every pla ..
Citizens join Al Barsha Police in “An Hour for Dubai” Initiative
Art can be a powerful tool to relieve stress, Experts say at Sharjah Children’ ..
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 5 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 05 May 2024
Bugti assures transporters for addressing their problems
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar meets foreign min ..
3 drug peddlers arrested, hashish recovered
1496,990 children given polio drops in five days: DC
Six terrorists killed, hideout busted in N Waziristan IBO: ISPR
More Stories From World
-
Football: Italian Serie A table
31 minutes ago -
Tennis: ATP Madrid Open result
51 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Serie A results - collated
51 minutes ago -
Bodies in Mexico presumed to be missing surfers have bullet wounds to head
1 hour ago -
Rublev battles past Auger-Aliassime to claim Madrid Open title
1 hour ago -
Cesar Luis Menotti, football romantic who led Argentina to first World Cup
1 hour ago
-
Football: German Bundesliga table
1 hour ago -
Former Argentina World Cup winning coach Menotti dead at 85 - federation
1 hour ago -
Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 48 games with win at Frankfurt
1 hour ago -
Rejuvenated Liverpool dent Tottenham's Champions League dreams
2 hours ago -
Furious Moyes blasts West Ham flops after Chelsea run riot
2 hours ago -
Teenager turns self in after attack on German politician
2 hours ago