The health of Crimean political prisoner Arsen Abkhairov, serving his sentence in Correctional Colony No. 9 in Tsivilsk (Chuvash Republic), continues to deteriorate, and the issue of necessary varicose vein surgery remains unresolved. This was reported by Crimean Solidarity, citing his wife, Aziza Abkhairova. She had a long visit with her husband in late February and early March.

According to Abkhairov, despite a long-standing vein problem that worsened in prison, the situation has remained virtually unchanged in recent months. Back in May 2023, Abkhairov reported needing surgery. At that time, his wife notes, the condition worsened due to the prison conditions in Yeniseisk, where he spent almost the entire day on his feet, from early morning until late evening.

After being transferred to Penal Colony No. 9 last June, the man underwent an ultrasound of his lower extremities, but was not given the results. An attempt to obtain a copy of the examination by submitting a request also yielded no results: "there was no response from the colony."

"They didn't give me any further recommendations, nor did they mention surgery," added Azize Abkhairova.

In addition to his vascular problems, the prisoner has developed new complaints. He suffers from headaches, lower back pain, and unstable blood pressure—from high to "very low." When visiting the medical unit, according to his wife, he is only given painkillers. His vision has also deteriorated: when reading, he "sees blurry."

Abkhairov continues to work at his factory six days a week. Despite the colony's strict regime, he is held in a general-security facility, which allows him to receive packages and meet with family for extended visits once every four months. He has not been placed in a disciplinary facility—according to his wife, he complies with all the administration's requirements.
While conditions remain difficult, she notes that religious practice is not hindered in the facility: "Arsen and other Muslims fasted during Ramadan, and there were no complaints."

Arsen Abkhairov is an entrepreneur from the Krasnogvardeisky District of Crimea and the father of minor children. He was arrested in February 2019 in connection with the "Krasnogvardeisky group" case. In November 2020, the Southern District Military Court sentenced him to 13 years in prison.

After the verdict, he was transferred to Krasnoyarsk Krai. There, he claims, his health deteriorated, in part due to the conditions of detention. In 2023, he was offered surgery at a tuberculosis hospital in Krasnoyarsk, but he refused the procedure, given the negative reviews.

Due to a miscarriage of justice, Abkhairov spent longer than his sentence in the Yeniseisk prison. After being transferred to Penal Colony No. 8 in Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia)—7,000 kilometers from Crimea—he began actively seeking a transfer closer to home. The court found the Federal Penitentiary Service's denial of his request "unreasonable," but this decision was only implemented six months later. During this time, he also reported dental problems. Even after subsequent attempts, according to his wife, the necessary treatment was never provided.