As coronavirus is spreading across the world and in Ukraine, those vulnerable to the virus are still imprisoned by the “DPR” and “LPR”. The elderly are detained illegally; there are prisoners with underlying conditions.

The treatment for coronavirus in a mild or moderate form is similar to the symptomatic therapy in case of flu.

According to the testimony of former prisoners collected by the Eastern-Ukrainian Centre for Civic Initiatives, patients receive almost no medical care for respiratory illnesses in the illegal places of detention in the “DPR” and “LPR”. This casts doubt on the possibility of even symptomatic treatment of prisoners in the event of a coronavirus outbreak.

Tea or salted water instead of fever medication

"There is no actual medical care. [For something] mild - yes. Something for a cold. And the rest...», says a former civilian prisoner of the “DPR” jail in Makiivka.

Former prisoners recall that colds were almost the only kind of illness that was accompanied by medical care in the illegal places of detention of the “DPR” and “LPR”. However, such assistance was often minimal.

Those who were lucky were given hot tea, honey, or water with salt for their fever. The latter was also a universal remedy for pain of various nature.

"I got sick in the cell and had fever. For medical assistance, the security guard got me a hot sweet strong tea», a former prisoner of war recalls his experience in detention at the base of the “Don Army Oblast” Cossack Union in Donetsk.

Violation of instructions in the use of medication

Doctors in illegal prisons sometimes used medications in violation of the regulations. Such medical care can render the drug ineffective or harmful.

"I became very ill. I was shivering from fever... Someone who was sort of their doctor came... He broke a vial that was supposed to be administered by injection. He gave it to me, "Here, drink", recalls a former civilian prisoner detained in the garage in the center of Luhansk.

Denial of treatment

Prisoners are often denied medical examination or the provision of medication.

"My cellmate was very sick... He probably caught a cold on the concrete. Sick with the flu. The temperature was very high. I asked to at least give him aspirin. They did not", says a former civilian prisoner, who was held at the base of the "SMERSH" battalion in Luhansk.

The staff of places of detention has repeatedly refused to follow the instructions of the doctors for improving patients’ condition.

"There was a time when my neighbor was lying and shivering from fever. He lay there, teeth chattering, shaking... The Doctor looked the patient in the eyes, took his temperature, and did an injection. The doctor asked for a cold cloth to put on his forehead. But they did not give the cloth", says a former civilian prisoner held at the SSU [State Security Service] in Luhansk.

Medicine only in packages from home

Often, prisoners have access to medicines only through packages from relatives, which takes a long time. They would not receive any medication before the package arrived, and their condition could exacerbate in the meantime.

"I had a cold. Strong cough. I was suffocating; there was no air. And no one gave me pills. Nothing. Until I received a package", says a former civilian prisoner of a remand prison in Donetsk in the so-called “DPR”.

Red tape. Fever on Friday, pills on Wednesday at best

Access to medical care in the “DPR” and “LPR” prisons is complicated due to red tape. Those released from the prisons recall having to write several requests for a doctor to examine the person. The inspection was carried out superficially; afterwards, one had to wait for about 5 days for the medications.

"If you fell ill today, and your medication is in the hospital, you need to wait until Monday for the doctor to come. … To write a request at six o’clock in a notebook; the notebook has to be given to the officer who would then decide when to call you during the day. Or would not call you, which was also possible. That is, if you fell ill on Friday, they could only start providing medical care on Wednesday", says a former civilian prisoner of the “DPR” jail in Makiivka.

Treatment methods, in particular for usual symptoms of a cold, and sanitary conditions of the prisoners put their lives at risk in the event of a coronavirus outbreak.

Over 100 civil society organizations signed a statement regarding COVID-19 in the prisons of the occupied Crimea and Donbas calling upon international organizations and their member states to take urgent measures to prevent the catastrophic consequences of coronavirus dissemination in the detention facilities in the territory of Crimea and Donbas temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.

Eastern-Ukrainian Center for Civic Initiatives, Human Rights Coalition "Justice for Peace in Donbas"