Ingush Seven’s Zarifa Sautiyeva in Failing Health Needs Immediate Medical Care, Memorial Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 13 – Zarifa Sautiyeva, the only woman among the Ingush Seven that the Russian authorities have now kept behind bars for four years, is in failing health and needs immediate medical attention, something the authorities have not permitted despite the provisions of Russian law.

            Sautiyeva, for many the face of the Ingush Seven, was arrested in 2019, convicted of extremism for her role in protests against the transfer of Ingush land to Chechnya, and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, has been in failing health for some time, the independent Fortanga news agency says (fortanga.org/2023/06/sostoyanie-zdorovya-zarify-sautievoj-uhudshilos-v-zaklyuchenii/).

            The Ingush Seven have appealed their case, and it is now being heard by an appellate court. But Sautiyeva’s condition has become so dire that the Memorial human rights organization is calling for an international effort to pressure the authorities to allow doctors to see her (t.me/polniypc/4465 and fortanga.org/2023/06/pravozashhitniki-byut-trevogu-iz-za-sostoyaniya-zarify-sautievoj/).

            For background on Sautiyeva and her persecution by Russian officials, see windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2020/08/zarifa-sautiyeva-from-student-of.html, windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/05/send-us-to-prison-but-dont-keep.html and windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/05/few-russians-speaking-up-for-ingush.html.