With the Russian Human Rights Commissioner’s timely stepping in, a 67 year-old Valery Komov from Feodosiya stopped his hunger strike which had jeopardised his health and life. The pensioner was explained his rights in detail. The Commissioner took the case under control to solve it and restore the infringed rights subsequently.

It should be reminded that on 26 December Mr Komov went on a hunger strike and threatened to commit a suicide because the court had not accepted his claim that he had been residing in Crimea on a permanent basis. This acceptance was required for him to be admitted to Russian citizenship.

The pensioner said the presiding judge suggested he appealed, but he could not do it for the lack of money even to pay the state duty. After all, the failure of the authorities to provide pensions was the main problem of Mr Komov. After Crimea joined Russia, Ukrainian authorities released themselves from the obligation to transfer pension money, while to receive pension benefits from Russia one has to have relevant citizenship.