Publicity temporarily improved Somryakov's situation in the Kuban penal colony.

Political prisoner Alexander Somryakov's conflict with the Khadyzhensk prison administration stemmed from his desire to officially work in his field and earn a salary. Human rights activists launched a fundraiser to help Somryakov's family, where he was the sole breadwinner.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," a court in Krasnodar sentenced Alexander Somryakov to six years in prison in 2023, finding him guilty under Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code for disseminating false information about the armed forces. An appellate courtupheld the sentence, and in September of that year, he was transferred to a prison colony in Kuban. In March 2024, police sent Somryakov a notice terminating his Russian citizenship, rendering him stateless. On March 9, Somryakov's relatives reported that he was being beaten and threatened in prison.

Dissemination of information about the situation of political prisoner Alexander Somryakov in Penal Colony No. 9 in Khadyzhensk, Kuban, and appeals to supervisory authorities helped "temporarily stabilize" his conflict with the administration. As the prisoner himself told his wife, after the publications about him, the prison duty officer spoke with him and listened to his problems.

"Sasha called his wife and thanked everyone who raised a fuss," the Politzek-Info project reported on March 11.

According to human rights activists, Somryakov's conflict with the prison administration was sparked by his attempts to find official employment "to at least earn a little money." An electrician by trade, Somryakov repaired household appliances before his arrest and was the sole breadwinner in his family. Since his arrest, he has been grieving over his inability to financially support his loved ones.

According to his relatives, Alexander Somryakov is essentially forced to work for free at the prison. Due to his conflict with the administration, he has been regularly placed in a punishment cell (SHIZO).

"After another five days in SHIZO, Sasha discovered that his grocery bag had been stolen. Furthermore, two cans of condensed milk, among his personal belongings, had disappeared from his lockable bag. The combination of these circumstances has severely undermined him mentally and psychologically," the publication notes.

Somryakov's wife and his lawyer plan to visit him in prison soon. Human rights activists have launched a fundraiser for 90,000 rubles to support his family: Somryakov's wife, Elena, is raising a young daughter alone and caring for her disabled mother, and her only income comes from occasional part-time jobs. The family's child benefits stopped after Alexander was stripped of his Russian citizenship.

* are included in the Russian register of foreign agents.

** The activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.