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Anti-fascist Roman Paklin’s longstanding eyesight issues have worsened in pre-trial detention, reports Mediazona. His lawyer, Ilkin Amirov, spoke about this at a press conference.

According to the defence, one of Paklin’s eyes “can hardly see at all” and the other can only make out “some shapes, vague silhouettes and people.” In court, the anti-fascist “simply cannot see the participants in the proceedings.”

Paklin is also unable to read case materials to prepare for hearings. “He can’t read; he has to bring the text as close as possible,” the lawyer said.

The judge presiding over the “Tyumen case” sent a request to the detention centre demanding a medical examination for Paklin. He was taken to a hospital run by the prison service for this, but the hospital “didn’t have all the resources” needed to make a diagnosis.

The defence have been seeking for months for the anti-fascist to be transferred to a civilian hospital for tests. Detention staff explain their inaction by saying there are not enough officers for escort duty.

Due to vision issues, Paklin had eye surgery before his arrest, with one such operation carried out shortly before he was detained. “Physical violence has left its mark and the recovery period did not go well. Previously, both eyes had some vision, now one is blind. This person lost their sight in a place where, by law, the authorities are supposed not only to ensure legal proceedings, but to safeguard the life and health of those on trial. Today, pre-trial detention centres just maim people,” concluded the lawyer.

Like all other defendants in the “Tyumen case,” Paklin said that officers tortured him after his arrest. He reported being subjected to electric shocks and “water torture” (simulated drowning). As a result, he developed heart pain and lost mobility in one of his arms.

In November 2022, the anti-fascist complained about high blood pressure, poor eyesight, trouble moving his left arm, and a delayed reaction speed. At the time, his lawyer noted Paklin was emotionally exhausted and “barely holding on.”

In 2023, the anti-fascist was twice placed in a psychiatric hospital for assessment. He was diagnosed with a schizophrenia-like disorder and declared legally incapable by a court. His case was separated into a different process. In 2024, Paklin was again transferred to a psychiatric facility for a final assessment of his health. Following this, he could have been kept in hospital for treatment, but ultimately he was returned to pre-trial detention and, in 2025, the court began to consider his case.

  • Before being targeted by the authorities, Paklin lived in Surgut, a major city in the oil-rich Khanty-Mansi region, and worked at Surgutneftegaz. He was detained in August 2022.
  • According to investigators, Paklin’s acquaintance Nikita Oleynik from Surgut created a terrorist organisation called the “People’s Will Vanguard” out of “his hatred for the current state regime,” and Paklin, along with four others from Tyumen and Yekaterinburg (a large city in the Urals), became its members. Security forces claimed they planned terrorist attacks along railway lines used to ship Russian military equipment to Ukraine, and allegedly intended to overthrow the authorities.
  • Paklin is accused of “ideological discussions” with others, in which he allegedly incited them against the Russian authorities, creating manuals on handling firearms, searching for training grounds, and intending to carry out terrorist acts himself. He faces four charges: participation in a terrorist organisation (Article 205.4(2) of the Criminal Code), preparation of a terrorist act (Article 205(2) (a) with Article 30(1)), illegal manufacture of explosive devices (Article 223.1(3)), and possession of explosive devices (Article 222.1(4)).