According to the wife of Anton Chechin, a Russian citizen convicted in a drug-related case, he fell ill in prison, lost consciousness, fell, and struck his head. Chechin’s wife, Manana Samkharadze, shared the news on social media, demanding that her husband be transferred to a clinic for all necessary medical examinations.
“I visited Anton today. Because his prison regime has been tightened and his calls restricted, it was only today that I first heard about the terrible incident that occurred on Monday.
It turned out that he lost consciousness and fell while bathing. Most dangerously, he hit his head. Given his diagnosis—a brain tumor—this is extremely alarming. Back in Russia, doctors told him that even after a minor blow, he must immediately undergo a tomography (CT scan) and take extreme care of his head. This is precisely why I was so afraid of him participating in protest actions.
Prison doctors brought him back to consciousness, checked his blood pressure, and gave him an injection. Anton is suffering from severe headaches, dizziness, and vomiting. He suspects it might be a concussion, yet no one is transferring him to a hospital.
Furthermore, no one intends to perform a tomography. Previously, the prison authorities would take him for a scan every six months without hesitation. His latest examination was scheduled for March 14, but we were refused because Badri Sagirashvili, a neurosurgeon at the Vivamed clinic, only indicated on the medical form that the patient required surgery, failing to specify the need for a tomography.
When the prison issued a refusal for this reason, I contacted Badri Sagirashvili. He told me he would not write anything until the summer and took responsibility for ensuring nothing would happen before then. He also told me never to call him again and hung up.
However, following this incident, we cannot wait until the summer. Neurosurgeons had previously warned us that fainting spells were possible if his condition worsened. We still hope this was not the cause of his loss of consciousness, but regardless, the fact that he hit his head is more than enough reason to urgently monitor his condition via tomography and transfer Anton to a hospital. Otherwise, his life is already in danger.
I demand that Anton Chechin be immediately transferred to a hospital and undergo all necessary examinations, including a tomography. A formal petition has already been submitted to the penitentiary service and the Office of the Public Defender (Ombudsman). We demand an urgent response,” writes Manana Samkharadze.
As a reminder, Anton Chechin was detained on December 3, 2024. He was charged under Article 260 of the Criminal Code, which covers the acquisition, storage, and possession of narcotic substances in especially large quantities. This article carries a penalty of 8 to 20 years or life imprisonment.
Judge Jvebe Nachkebia sentenced Anton Chechin to eight years and six months in prison.
New Charges Filed Against Anton Chechin, Artyom Gribul, and Sergey Kukharchuk