Iryna Danylovych, a Crimean citizen journalist imprisoned by Russia, has lost hearing in one ear due to untreated otitis media and is suffering from constant severe headaches. The prison administration withholds medical care, instead subjecting her to psychological pressure, Iryna’s relatives tell the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre (CTRC).
Danylovych’s family say that Iryna has completely lost her hearing in her left ear, suffers from hearing constant noise and whistling in her head, as well as severe headaches. Despite repeated requests, she was not provided with qualified medical assistance for a long time and the medication she needs is not available in the prison.
In addition to the health issues, Iryna Danylovych has faced continuous psychological pressure. Russian music is consistently and deliberately played in her unit’s barracks loudly, with prison staff ignoring Danylovych’s repeated requests to turn down the volume.
The journalist’s relatives say that no mental health support is available in the prison and Danylovych’s morale remains extremely low due to the combination of severe health problems and the conditions she has been living in.
According to Danylovych’s family, the food in the prison remains subpar, but Iryna tries not to complain about it during their short conversations by phone. She is exempt from forced labor due to her health.
Danylovych spends most of her free time reading books, or at least she has this opportunity on paper.
She can only stay in touch with her family through 2-3 minute phone calls. Parcels are delivered through volunteers and acquaintances. Letters of support, especially those sent from abroad, do not reach her: the prison administration does not pass them on to her.
The CTRC stressed that Danylovych had repeatedly expressed support for other Crimean political prisoners and pleaded for them not to be forgotten.
The case of Iryna Danylovych
Iryna Danylovych was detained on 29 April 2022, in the occupied Crimea. She was detained on her way from work on the road from Koktebel to Feodosia. Her house in Vladislavivka village was searched, her phone and laptop were seized.
Iryna Danylovych worked as a nurse, and was also a citizen journalist, covering the healt care workers’ rights and problems of the health care system in Crimea.
On 29 June 2023, it was reported that the Russian-backed Supreme Court of Crimea changed the ruling in the case of Iryna Danylovych, who had been previously sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of storing an explosive device.
On 2 November 2023, it was reported that Iryna Danylovych had suffered a stroke while still in the Simferopol PTDC.
In August 2023 Iryna Danylovych’s father, Bronyslav Danylovych, said that she had lost all hearing in her left ear and is receiving no medical assistance.
In November 2024 Iryna reported heart pain and headaches and said that the left side of her body was numb after a microstroke.
It was reported in March 2025 that Iryna Danylovych was in a prison in Russia’s Stavropol Kray, sharing a barrack with 120 inmates.
In July 2025, the unlawfully imprisoned citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych addressed Pina Picierno, Vice President of the European Parliament, asking her to address the mass abuse of inmates in women’s colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk (Russia), where she is imprisoned.
Pina Picierno supported Iryna Danylovych and said that those responsible for the unjust imprisonment of her and other persons must answer for their actions.
In January 2026, Iryna Danylovych called on the international community to put more effort into raising awareness of the plight of Russia’s political prisoners in 2026.