We confirm our evaluation of the Yukos case as general as unlawful, having ulterior motives, far from justice and for the restoration of real justice.

But the case of Vasily Aleksanyan is quite a different matter. This is a case of deliberately cruel torture of a seriously ill man and willfully threatening his life.

This kind of treatment is not acceptable of anyone, including prisoners and defendants. This is a problem of our entire society.

Those who insist that Vasily Aleksanyan can receive proper medical treatment and support in a detention facility should have to present our society with credible proofs. There are no such proofs at present.

We demand an unbiased medical examination of Vasily Aleksanyan by trustworthy specialists and for immediate measures to be taken to provide him with the necessary aid.

We support the position of Vasily Aleksanyan’s defence and family who are convinced that such help can only be provided at a specialist hospital.

We also support the appeal of the human rights activists who are calling for the hunger strike protest to stop.

Chairman of the Yabloko party, Grigory Yavlinsky