“I am not writing this letter to beg for sympathy. I am writing because the silence within these walls is becoming unbearable; it presses harder on my chest than any physical restraints. The situation here never changes: the same grey walls. Time has stood still or become an endless beginning and end. I am completely cut off from the world. I exist in a vacuum where news is a forbidden luxury. My letters home often don’t reach their recipients, and those that do are the only threads connecting me to a former life. … There is no medicine here. Every illness becomes a test of willpower because there is nowhere to wait for help. There is no normal food here—that simple human food that can at least offer some comfort. … There is nothing personal in this place. No private life, no right to mere human warmth. And we limit ourselves to encounters with loved ones. I ask God to give me the strength to endure this trial.”

This is an excerpt from the last known letter from political prisoner Valery Perov from the prison in Nizhny Novgorod in July 2026.

Valery Perov © private

Valery Perov, born on August 12, 1984, was sentenced on October 24, 2024, to eleven years in prison, a fine of 500,000 Ruble (approximately 5,200 Euro), and one additional year of restricted liberty for allegedly “collaborating on a confidential basis with a foreign organization to support activities knowingly directed against the security of the Russian Federation” and “publicly inciting terrorist activities and disseminating terrorist propaganda via the internet” (Articles 275.1 and 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). He had, in fact, expressed criticism of the military invasion of Ukraine in comments posted on the Telegram messaging service.

In July 2026, a close relative of Perov wrote to the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR):

“Valery is not receiving adequate medical care. He constantly complains of pain in his arm and now also in his leg (he has been diagnosed with arthritis), but the doctors in prison tell him everything is fine and simply prescribe painkillers. There is no normal diet; the food is deficient in vitamins, and there is no opportunity to exercise or breathe fresh air. He is also being psychologically abused: for example, he is often called a terrorist and a traitor, and he was denied the right to attend his mother’s funeral.”

She confirmed that she received money from the ISHR through an intermediary, which Valery Perov used to buy groceries at the prison store, and sent the receipts as proof. She also received money so that Maria Perova, Valery’s wife, could travel by bus from Nizhny Novgorod to the penal colony in the village of Prosek to visit her husband. Valery Perov is grateful to the ISHR for this support and their continued interest in his situation.

Our support programme for political prisoners in Russia includes, in particular, our efforts to find a political sponsor (Member of Parliament, Member of the European Parliament, and others) for everyone with whom the ISHR is in contact – including Valery Perov. We monitor their progress and provide ongoing updates on the ISHR website. To this end, we maintain close contact with their lawyers and immediate family members and facilitate visits, which is especially important for underage political prisoners. Where necessary, we assist with legal fees and medical care. Anyone wishing to contact a political prisoner will receive a profile of the prisoner and guidelines for written communication from the ISHR. Given the ruble-euro exchange rate, even relatively modest financial assistance can have a meaningful impact. The ISHR therefore continues to direct its support towards political prisoners in Russia and their families, particularly where legal, medical or other urgent assistance is required.