Scientist Valery Kachin goes on dry hunger strike in Udmurtia SIZO
A Birobidzhan geodesist serving 14 years for treason has refused food and water after violence and abuse in SIZO-1 — and the Sardaana News editorial position.
This piece has two parts: a news report with links to sources, followed by the Sardaana News editorial position.
What happened
Valery Kachin, a geodesist scientist from Birobidzhan sentenced to 14 years in a strict-regime colony for treason, has gone on a dry hunger strike — refusing food and water — in SIZO-1 (pre-trial detention centre No. 1) in Udmurtia. OVD-Info reported this, citing the human rights project Pervy Otdel (First Department).
Kachin says he is kept almost continuously in a punishment cell, made to lift and lower a heavy bed himself, subjected to night checks, and has had his belongings taken. On the morning of 21 October, after a conflict with staff, he was thrown to the floor: he hit his face and has abrasions on his elbows and knees. He is 182 cm tall and now weighs about 60 kg.
Who Valery Kachin is
Before his arrest Kachin worked at the Birobidzhan city hall and at the Bastak nature reserve. He opposed the war and supported Ukraine, Alexei Navalny and the protests in Belarus.
In January 2025 a court sentenced him to 14 years in a strict-regime colony for treason. The FSB claims he passed information about critical infrastructure in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast to a representative of Ukrainian intelligence.
In September 2025, after more than two months in a punishment cell (ShIZO), Kachin went on a dry hunger strike. He dropped to 53 kg and reported heart and kidney problems.
Sardaana News editorial position
Valery Kachin is a political prisoner, jailed for his anti-war views. The “treason” case is part of the FSB’s campaign of repression against scientists and dissenters, which we described in our piece on Stalin-style repression and FSB cases against scientists.
What is being done to Kachin in the SIZO is torture: endless punishment cells, night checks, confiscated belongings, violence. An emaciated man who has already survived one dry hunger strike that damaged his heart and kidneys is now in danger of losing his life.
We demand the immediate release of Valery Kachin and urgent medical care for him.
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