Renowned artist and musician Aleksandra Skochilenko, also known as Sasha, has faced severe backlash after being sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of spreading "fake news" about the Russian Armed Forces. The sentencing has drawn widespread criticism, with one member of Russia's presidential human rights council calling it "horrific" and "mortally dangerous."

According to the state-run RIA Novosti news agency, council member Eva Merkacheva expressed concerns over Skochilenko's health, stating that the artist has an intolerance to certain foods and suffers from various other illnesses. Merkacheva argued that it was known from the beginning that placing Skochilenko, aged 33, in a pre-trial detention facility could be detrimental to her well-being.

The conviction of Skochilenko stemmed from an incident where she allegedly swapped price tags at a St. Petersburg supermarket. The new tags displayed information about the war in Ukraine, including details about the presence of Russian conscripts on the battlefield and facts about civilian deaths in the city of Mariupol, which had been under siege. The act was deemed as spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces.

Merkacheva, who plans to approach President Vladimir Putin on the matter, stated that she will advocate for legal amendments that would prohibit placing seriously ill individuals like Skochilenko into pre-trial detention facilities. She seeks to address the potential health risks faced by individuals with specific dietary requirements or underlying health conditions.

Joining Merkacheva's efforts, Alexander Brod, another member of the human rights council, pledged to appeal to Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova, urging her to ensure that Skochilenko's dietary needs are met while she serves her sentence in the penal colony. RIA Novosti reported this commitment from Brod.

The concerns for Skochilenko's health have also been echoed by more than 100 Russian doctors who signed an open letter to President Putin. The doctors expressed their apprehension about the artist's well-being and called for her release.

Skochilenko's case has reignited discussions on the treatment of seriously ill individuals within the criminal justice system and the importance of ensuring their access to suitable healthcare facilities and dietary arrangements. As the human rights council prepares to approach the relevant authorities, the hope remains that urgent actions will be taken to address and alleviate Skochilenko's health concerns during her imprisonment.