This was reported by a Russian lawyer, Valery Kondratiev, who visited Klykh in prison on December 12 and wrote a follow-up report, posted by Russian human rights activist Tatiana Shchur.
According to Kondratiev, Klykh said he had been given a new mattress, but it was uncomfortable to sleep on because of metal parts of the bed. He still has to sleep on the floor, as a result of which he feels pain in his left shoulder and neck. Klykh said he needed another mattress.
"Klykh's outward appearance seems normal. He says that when he started to buy food, he gained weight. [He] complained that he couldn't buy many products because they are expensive, and costs per month are limited to RUR 6,000 (UAH 2,800, a little more than US$100). [He] was also unhappy with food – the food is tasteless, the diet is dreary and portions are small. Regarding his wounds and bedsores on the body, Klykh noted that they had begun to heal over. He showed a scab on his arm," the lawyer's report goes on.
According to the lawyer, after the address of Klykh's prison was broadcast on Ukrainian television, he started to receive letters of support, even from the United States. He gladly accepted the news that he would be visited by the lawyer and a psychologist, he said that he needed it, Kondratiev added. "Klykh expressed his gratitude that he is remembered, and rallies, protest events are organized in Ukraine, and his problem is covered by the media – and [he] hopes for an exchange and return to Ukraine as soon as possible," the lawyer wrote.
Read alsoUkrainian prisoner Klykh falls into coma in Russian psychiatric hospitalAs UNIAN reported earlier, the Supreme Court of Chechnya in May 2016 sentenced Ukrainian citizens Klykh and Mykola Karpyuk to 20 and 22.5 years in prison, respectively, for alleged gang-related activities, murder and attempted murder of Russian military servicemen. The Russian investigation alleged that Klykh and Karpyuk set up groups in Ukraine to participate in a fighting against the Russian army for independent Chechnya during the first Chechen war.
Klykh's relatives claim he has never been to Chechnya.
The Ukrainians were tortured into "confessing" during the so-called "investigation," which had a negative impact on Klykh's mental health.
Ukraine's Justice Ministry has sent several requests to the Russian authorities for the extradition of Karpyuk and Klykh.
