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Convicted journalist from Chita Nika Novak has declared a hunger strike at IK-11 prison in Irkutsk Oblast, reported Mediazona.

Novak previously held a hunger strike from 16 October to 3 November due to the torturous conditions. She began a new one on 13 November after being placed with a “woman who has a certain urge to provoke and assault her cellmates.”

The journalist wrote to a Mediazona correspondent: ‘The “girl” has targeted me; she provokes, threatens to put indelible make-up on my face, makes threatening gestures, insults me, purposely talks loudly and bangs on the bed or bedside table at night to keep me awake and, most importantly, tries under threat to extract state secrets from my criminal case.’

After declaring the hunger strike, she was temporarily moved to a cell-type room. Previously, her requests for a safe room were ignored.

Novak added: ‘In such moments I fondly remember the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre, where, if people held in the same cell have conflicts or provocative incidents, after a written request, within an hour or two, they are separated. But here, to save your own life and health from provocations and attacks, you have to put your life and health at risk by going on hunger strike.’ She also reported interruptions with her mail.

  • Nika Novak worked at several Chita media outlets—ChitaMedia, ZabTV, Zab.ru. In 2014, she supported Russia’s actions regarding Ukraine and visited Donbas, but in 2022 she opposed the full-scale invasion.
  • In November 2024, the Transbaikal Krai court sentenced Novak to four years in a general regime prison colony under the article on confidential cooperation with a foreign organisation to assist in activities directed against the security of Russia (Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code). On appeal, the court also ruled to confiscate 500,000 roubles (approximately US$5,600) from Novak, which she was allegedly paid illegally while working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
  • In May this year, Novak was transferred to IK-11 in Irkutsk Oblast, a region of Siberia. As noted by First Department, this prison colony has a reputation as one of the most closed and harshest. Prisoners have spoken of regular beatings, pressure, blackmail and constant placements in the punishment cell.