The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, Vladimir Lukin, sent a letter to the Prosecutor General’s office requesting ‘to investigate’ the situation with former vice-President of Yukos, Vasily Aleksanyan, ‘and, if necessary, take action.’

‘We have also sent a telegram to Yury Kalinin, director of the Federal Penitentiary Service in Russia, in order for appropriate measures to be taken, if necessary, into the medical treatment of Vasily Aleksanyan.’ said V. Lukin on air at Echo Moskvy on Wednesday.

According to the Ombudsman, the reason for his address was a letter received from human rights activists and lawyers ‘which states that V. Aleksanyan is very seriously ill and is in urgent need of medical care.’

Lukin emphasised that ‘We have not had any response from either yet. Meanwhile the deadline for a reply from the Prosecutor General will soon expire.’

(Interfax, 30.01.2008)