Russia stages fourth trial of Crimean political prisoner

Russia has staged a fourth trial of 67-year-old Crimean political prisoner Iryna Danylovych, who has been imprisoned since 2022 on fabricated charges of illegally manufacturing explosives. The trial, which began on April 21, 2026, is widely viewed as a tactic to keep her incarcerated until her death, given her deteriorating health from torture and medical neglect in Russian custody. Danylovych, a nurse and human rights activist, was abducted by Russian FSB agents and has faced repeated sham proceedings. International human rights organizations have condemned the trial as a blatant violation of due process and an attempt to silence dissent in occupied Crimea.