Jehovah's Witness* Valery Bailo dies at SIZO

Valery Bailo, a Jehovah's Witness* of 67, has died at the Novorossiysk SIZO (pre-trial prison). His relatives assert that he complained about his health, but no medical care was provided to him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this spring, law enforcers conducted a search at Valery Bailo's home, after which he was placed into custody. The court sentenced him to 2.5 years of freedom deprivation on charges of involvement in an extremist organization. In September 2024, his relatives said they were worried about his health.

According to Yuri Bailo, one of the sons, his father had earlier worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and was an employee at maximum security colonies. "My father said that people should be treated humanely, even if they had committed a crime, because cruelty cannot correct a person. He was respected by his colleagues and prisoners," said Yuri Bailo.

Sergey Yanovsky, an advocate, has noted that Valery Bailo was not provided with medical care at all, despite regular visits to the medical unit. "It seems that he died of exhaustion and hunger, as he suffered greatly from his stomach problems, but was not examined," he has added.

The advocate believes that Valery Bailo's death was the result of criminal negligence on the part of the SIZO administration.

*All the 396 Russian organizations of Jehovah's Witnesses were recognized as extremist, and their activities in Russia were banned by court decision.