A pediatric neurologist from Izhevsk, Anna Selivanoskaya, left Russia after searches of participants in a chat supporting political prisoners, she herself told «OVD-Info»**.
On October 15, FSB officers and witnesses came to her. The former stated that «they received an assignment from Moscow» — to check the woman «for involvement in extremist activities». The security forces called participation in a closed chat of doctors extremism. However, no charges were brought against her. According to Selivanoskaya, someone from the chat «leaked conversations» of doctors to the FSB. The search was conducted «culturally», the doctor believes. After she refused to give passwords for the equipment, they took her computer, laptop, and phone.
«Of course, we are not extremists. There was little politics in the chat, about 70% were medical issues. <…> I remember discussing tuberculosis, obstetrics. We discussed philosophical questions, shared links to Hannah Arendt. On the level of chatter, to support each other. We sent pictures of our cats, dogs, views, and landscapes. I once collected mushrooms — posted the mushrooms», — Selivanoskaya said.
Selivanoskaya also said that the slogans of the doctors supporting political prisoners were not political, but humanistic. «The Bible has these words: «Whoever knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them». So if I, as a neurologist, know that Kara-Murza** has severe polyneuropathy and that every day counts — I cannot not sign, even if I am scared. God sees everything. The same goes for Baryshnikov, Andrey Shabanov, Gorinov. We see their suffering, and to be indifferent to them because you are scared — these things do not align in my head», Selivanoskaya believes.
Anna Selivanoskaya signed appeals regarding the health of political prisoners, including — for Vladimir Kara-Murza, to have him transferred to a hospital.
The doctor said that after Navalny's death, a policeman came to her, prohibiting laying flowers in memory of the politician. Despite this, the woman did not consider leaving Russia. However, after the search, she realized that she needed to leave. Anna Selivanoskaya left the country without any difficulties.
* Included in the list of «extremists and terrorists».
** Recognized as «foreign agents» in Russia.
Photo: social networks