The Moscow branch of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said it had found no violations of the rights of political analyst Alexander Kynev, who was diagnosed with two lower-leg fractures following his detention. The human rights project Slovo Zashchite reported the response on October 23 and published the agency's official letter.
The FSIN letter, dated October 22, was sent in response to an appeal by urbanist Mikhail Popov, who had requested an investigation into reports that Kynev was beaten.
The agency maintains that Kynev's detention conditions complied with Russian law, that no threats to his life or health were identified, and that no violations of his human dignity were found.
However, the published response addresses Kynev's detention at Pretrial Detention Center No. 1, known as Matrosskaya Tishina. On October 14, he had already been transferred to another Moscow detention facility, Pretrial Detention Center No. 4, known as Medved.
The letter says nothing about the circumstances of his arrest, during which Kynev says he sustained serious injuries. It also does not establish which actions by security personnel were examined or what caused the fractures.
Previously, a source within the prison service's medical system told Slovo Zashchite that the injuries could have resulted from torture after Kynev's detention. The political analyst received treatment at the hospital attached to Matrosskaya Tishina.
At an October 22 hearing in Moscow City Court, Kynev said security officers had failed to identify themselves, used force against him, and injured his right leg during the arrest. He also complained of inadequate medical care and serious difficulty walking.
According to medical records reviewed by the court, Kynev was treated in a surgical department from September 25 to October 8 for a closed fracture. Upon discharge, he was advised to use a cane when walking.
On October 22, Moscow City Court upheld Kynev's detention until November 24. He is accused of attempted drug trafficking on a large scale and denies the charges.
Kynev is a political analyst specializing in Russian elections and regional politics. In February 2026, the Russian Justice Ministry added him to its register of "foreign agents."
The FSIN response represents the agency's official position on Kynev's detention conditions but does not establish how he sustained his injuries. Its assertion that no violations occurred therefore cannot be treated as a refutation of allegations that he was subjected to violence during his arrest.