Saxophonist Andrei Shabanov was beaten twice in a Samara penal colony. Before that, he had complained about detention conditions

Saxophonist Andrei Shabanov was beaten twice in a Samara penal colony. Before that, he had complained about detention conditions

The political prisoner’s mother told Novaya Gazeta about this. According to her, the musician was forced to clean common areas and scrub sinks. But he is not allowed to do that kind of work: Shabanov has progressive psoriasis and a severe spinal condition. And the law is on the convict’s side: it exempts people with disabilities from such labor without their consent.

“But when he was transferred to the status of the ‘offended,’ the law stopped applying. He is beaten for refusing. He has already been beaten twice. The first time one person beat him, the second time several people did, very badly. My son does not give details. But he could not stand at the phone for long”, Shabanov’s mother says.

She believes the beatings may be connected to complaints about detention conditions that the musician and his support group sent in the summer. The regional Federal Penitentiary Service directorate found no violations of the saxophonist’s rights and denies that castes exist.

▶️ Andrei 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 sabotage, and joining the Russian Volunteer Corps and the Freedom of Russia Legion. Shabanov’s support group insisted that the prosecution was prompted by his posts criticizing the authorities and containing anti-war statements.

In detention, the musician is under pressure from other prisoners. He is forbidden to sleep on a bed or use the kitchen, and he is also threatened with beatings.

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

Andrei Shabanov / Photo from the Telegram channel “The Case of Andrei Shabanov”

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