Saxophonist Andrey Shabanov Is Being Denied Sleep and Kitchen Access in Prison. Help Protect Him!

Saxophonist Andrey Shabanov is being denied sleep and kitchen access in prison. Help protect him!

Andrey Shabanov is a saxophonist who was sentenced to six years in a penal colony for posts about the war. Recently, Andrey reported that he is being pressured in prison by other inmates. The musician is being forbidden to sleep on his bed and to use the kitchen. He is also being threatened with a beating because he allegedly sat in the “wrong place” — a place that, in the prison hierarchy, is designated for the so-called “offended.”

Andrey has a Group II disability. He has progressive psoriasis and arthritis. He said that in prison he is “rotting alive” because he is not receiving the necessary treatment.

“My fingers are already crooked! Can you imagine what that means for a musician? My neck is deformed, my spine, everything hurts. The treatment prescribed on paper was not provided to me,” he said.

▶️ How to support Andrey Shabanov

Andrey now especially needs publicity and public pressure on the colony administration. You can help with this! Send an appeal demanding that his safety be ensured and that violations of his rights be stopped.

You can find the list of authorities, detailed instructions, and a sample complaint here.

▶️ Andrey Shabanov’s case

The saxophonist was accused of justifying terrorism and calling for anti-state activity over posts about the war.

According to investigators, he called for financing the Armed Forces of Ukraine, committing acts of sabotage, and joining the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion. Shabanov’s support group insisted that the reason for his prosecution was his posts criticizing the authorities and expressing anti-war views.

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