Crimean Tatar Prisoner Shaban Umerov Reported to Have New Health Problems in Russian Penal Colony, Wife Says
A Crimean Tatar political prisoner serving an 18-year sentence in a Russian colony has developed new medical problems including high cholesterol and joint pains in his hands, his wife said after a visit. He is receiving some medication, has severe dental decay that impairs his ability to chew, and has requested dental prosthetics from the colony administration, which says the matter is under review.
By Blake Marriott
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A Crimean Tatar prisoner held by Russian authorities in a penal colony in Murmansk has developed new health problems, his wife told human rights monitors following a recent visit. According to Zarema Umerova, who spoke to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center after seeing her husband, Shaban Umerov is now experiencing joint pain in his hands — specifically in his palms and fingers — in addition to long-standing complaints of high blood pressure, headaches and pain in the heart area.
Medical tests performed while Umerov is in captivity reportedly showed an elevated cholesterol level, and he has been prescribed medication to address that condition. Zarema Umerova said her husband regularly takes the medications prescribed for high blood pressure and headaches. She also stated that the cardiac pain predated his arrest.
One of the most acute problems described by Umerova concerns his dental health. She said that many of his teeth are destroyed and that he now has only a few remaining teeth on both the upper and lower jaws, making it difficult for him to properly chew food. Umerov has formally submitted a request to the administration of the correctional colony for extraction of the damaged teeth and subsequent dental prosthetic treatment. According to his wife, the administration has not refused the request but informed them that the question remains under consideration.
Despite these health challenges, Umerov continues to work in the colony's sewing production. His wife said he finds that the work helps to pass the time in confinement; she also noted that before her recent visit he had taken several days of leave from the workshop. No further details were provided about the conditions of his work or about access to broader medical services within the colony beyond the medication and analysis mentioned.
Umerov, a native of Crimea, was detained on March 27, 2019, during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes in the territory annexed by Russia. In March 2022, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced him to 18 years in prison in the case referred to as «делу Хизб ут-Тахрир». An appeal court in March 2023 left that sentence unchanged.
The report on Umerov's health problems was circulated by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and published by the regional outlet Krym.Realii. The case and the reported health deterioration add to ongoing concerns raised by rights groups about the treatment of Crimean Tatars and others prosecuted in politically sensitive cases since the 2014 annexation of Crimea. The filing for dental prosthetics and the colony’s response underscore recurring issues about access to adequate medical and dental care for people held in Russian penal institutions.
Krym.Realii noted alongside the article that Russian authorities have moved to restrict access to the outlet's reporting in some areas. The outlet advised readers on alternatives for accessing their reporting where the site is blocked. The information in this article is based on the account provided by Umerov’s wife to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and published by Krym.Realii.
