Russia: Lawyer says Whelan's suffering from 'inguinal hernia'

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SOT, Vladimir Zherebenkov, Paul Whelan’s lawyer (Russian): "There is no problem with medicine. The issue is that he has inguinal hernia which is not a pleasant thing. He was supervised by doctors in America. Here in Russia doctors carried out some research. And a problem broke out [when] on 9th [of August] he was moved from his cell to another, a radio point was not operational and a renovation was needed there, [that is why] he asked for transferring to another cell. A guard did not know he was not allowed to carry weights and the guard asked him to take his own belongings to a new cell. As a result pain appeared, a recrudescence, doctors provided a treatment but he considered an attitude of the guard to be inhumane, degrading his dignity and as a matter of fact he is right."
SOT, Vladimir Zherebenkov, Paul Whelan’s lawyer (Russian): "Today the custody is extended for two months to October 29. The investigation is extended for four months to December 29. I think that we will complete the investigation of this criminal case and I will study the case files in these four months. Considering the versions for pre-charge detention in the final version and studying the case file, I think that we will hear charges in the final version and start to study the case files in the next two weeks. The last investigative and prosecutorial activities and expert studies mostly play the role in favour of the protection."
SOT, Vladimir Zherebenkov, Paul Whelan’s lawyer (Russian): "We made a point to the security officer and explained him that other detainees could help in such situations. As for the recrudescence, we waited for the documents from America, so that we could see the development of remission to deal with the issue. Army doctors have examined him and said that if the recrudescence happens in two hours, he will need to do the surgery and eliminate the problem. And they have said to wait for the further development. So, he has't got any better. He has permanent nagging pain. It is constant pills and we are worried about that. We have made a decision to insist on the operation."
SCRIPT
Paul Whelan’s lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov stated that his client is suffering from a long-standing inguinal hernia, speaking outside the Lefortovo District Court in Moscow on Friday.
Whelan, who is suspected of espionage, aggravated the hernia after prison guards asked him to carry his belongings to another cell on August 9, according to Zherebenkov.
Earlier on Friday the court ruled to extend Whelan’s custody until October 29.
He was detained in the Russian capital on December 28. If found guilty of espionage, the former US Marine Corps veteran faces up to 20 years in prison.