Russia, Mascow: Dmitry Muratov, the former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has appealed to the Red Cross to address the plight of Aleksei Gorinov. Gorinov, a former Moscow municipal lawmaker, is currently serving a seven-year sentence that critics and supporters claim is politically motivated.

Gorinov, 63, was convicted in July 2022 for disseminating "fake news" about the Russian military due to his opposition to Russia's actions in Ukraine. In November 2023, a new charge was brought against him, accusing him of "justifying terrorism."

Muratov has reached out to Mirjana Spoljaric-Egger, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, requesting urgent intervention to ensure Gorinov receives necessary medical care. He has urged Spoljaric-Egger to act promptly, highlighting the dire conditions Gorinov faces.

According to Novaya Gazeta, Gorinov lacks basic necessities such as a mattress, blanket, hot water, and a functioning toilet. He has also been deprived of books, letters, and phone calls, leading to severe isolation that has impaired his ability to communicate. 

Muratov's letter emphasizes the urgency of addressing Gorinov's situation and calls for the Red Cross to inspect facilities where politically imprisoned individuals are held in Russia and Belarus. Novaya Gazeta reports that Gorinov now faces a new charge based on dubious allegations from fellow inmates, suggesting that his plight is worsening.

Gorinov was the first person convicted under a new law targeting the dissemination of "fake" information about the Russian military, introduced after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His health, previously compromised by lung surgery in 2016, has deteriorated, prompting concern from his support group.