Note: The views expressed herein represent only those of the International Law Section and not those of the D.C. Bar or of its Board of Governors.

June 26, 2006

Senior Division Military Prosecutor
General Procuracy of the Russian Federation
Main Military Procuracy
Kholzunova 14
Moscow K-160
Russia

Dear I.A. Grubiy:

The International Law Section of the District of Columbia Bar received your letter on February 9, 2006 and appreciates your consideration of our letter dated November 30, 2005 regarding the renewed detention of our colleague Mikhail Trepashkin. We appreciate the import of your response, yet we are still concerned about Mr. Trepashkin’s detention status and the reported poor state of his health. The views expressed in this letter represent only those of the International Law Section and not those of the District of Columbia Bar at large or of its Board of Governors.

Our primary concern relates to Mr. Trepashkin’s reported ill health and lack of proper medical care as well as the substandard detention conditions for him and his fellow inmates. We understand that Mr. Trepashkin spent several stays in “punishment” cells this past winter, during which time he was given very little food and water and forced to remain in cells that were inadequately heated for subzero outside temperatures. We are also concerned that he has not been given adequate medical attention for chronic bronchial asthma and other ailments from which he is suffering such that his health continues to be endangered. We further understand that conditions for his fellow prisoners are likewise extremely poor and that they also suffer from similar skin and respiratory ailments, reportedly due to contaminated drinking water and polluted air from an adjacent industrial site.

We understand that Mr. Trepashkin is still incarcerated and received a visit from a regional human rights ombudsman about prison conditions around April 5. We also understand that he is presently awaiting a hearing to relocate him to a higher security prison, which has been postponed.

We reiterate our concerns to you that (1) Mr. Trepashkin was arrested and convicted on a pretextual basis and in closed court proceedings in order to discourage his work on behalf of a client, (2) Mr. Trepashkin and his fellow inmates are incarcerated in substandard prison conditions, and (3) Mr. Trepashkin is still in very poor health and is not receiving proper medical care from prison authorities for skin and respiratory ailments. We urge Russian authorities to address Mr. Trepashkin’s medical concerns promptly and thoroughly and to reconsider their position with respect to Mr. Trepashkin’s case.

Very truly yours,