​Political Prisoners Are Dying in Russian Jails. These People Are Keeping Their Memory Alive.

**Political Prisoners Are Dying in Russian Jails. These People Are Keeping Their Memory Alive.** At least six Russian political prisoners have died in custody in 2025, according to documentation compiled by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and OVD-Info. The deaths have occurred in facilities across several regions, prompting renewed scrutiny from domestic activists and international observers over medical care and conditions in the penal system. Memorial, operating from exile after its 2021 liquidation by Russian authorities, recorded the cases through court documents, prisoner correspondence and family statements. OVD-Info, which tracks detentions and prosecutions, corroborated the figure in its periodic reports.

The Cases

Among the documented deaths was that of opposition activist and former municipal deputy Sergei Kovalyov in March 2025 at a penal colony in the Sverdlovsk region. Kovalyov had been serving a sentence on charges of discrediting the Russian armed forces. Prison authorities attributed the death to a heart condition; his family stated he had received inadequate treatment for known cardiovascular issues. Additional cases involved individuals prosecuted under extremism or treason statutes, including several convicted after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Rights groups noted that many had pre-existing health conditions that worsened during pretrial detention or after transfer to remote colonies.

Background on Political Imprisonment

Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) oversees more than 600,000 inmates. The category of “political prisoner” is defined by Memorial as those prosecuted for exercising rights to free expression, assembly or association, or for peaceful opposition to state policy. The organisation’s list exceeded 1,000 names before its forced closure. International bodies have repeatedly raised concerns. The European Court of Human Rights and the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention have issued findings on individual cases, citing violations of the right to a fair trial and adequate medical care. Russian officials maintain that all prosecutions follow criminal procedure and reject the political classification.

Efforts to Preserve Memory

Families, lawyers and independent archivists continue to document the cases. The “Last Address” project installs small plaques at former homes of victims of Soviet repression; similar private initiatives now record contemporary deaths. Relatives of the deceased have published medical records and letters on social media and independent outlets, creating a public record outside state-controlled channels. Journalists at Mediazona and independent correspondents have reported on prison transfers and health complaints filed by inmates. These accounts draw on official FSIN statements, court filings and interviews with released prisoners.

Official Response and Investigations

The Investigative Committee has opened routine inquiries into several deaths, as required when an inmate dies in custody. In statements to state media, FSIN representatives have described medical services as compliant with regulations and attributed fatalities to natural causes or inmate refusal of treatment. No independent forensic reviews outside the state system have been permitted in the recent cases. Human rights defenders note that access to colonies for monitors has been restricted since 2022.

Implications and Next Steps

Continued deaths in custody place additional pressure on Russia’s relations with the Council of Europe, from which it withdrew in 2022, and on bilateral human-rights dialogues with other states. Domestic advocates expect further releases of prisoner lists and medical documentation as new cases arise. Further updates will be provided as official investigations conclude and additional data from rights monitors become available.

This is Irina Volkov for Global1 News, reporting from Moscow. 🇷🇺