Russian journalist Maria Ponamarenko, who is serving a six-year prison sentence for spreading “disinformation” about the Russian army, [cut her own veins](https://ovd.info/express-news/2025/03/17/advokat-zhurnalistka-rusnews-mariya-ponomarenko-nakhoditsya-na-grani?utm_source=tg_live&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news&utm_term=17_03_25) in prison, the human rights organization OVD-Info reports.
According to Ponamarenko’s lawyer, at her last hearing, she showed him a suture on the vein in the inside of her elbow. She said she had been forced to do it “because of constant harassment by the prison administration.”
RusNews, the outlet where Ponomarenko worked, wrote on Telegram that the journalist is “on the brink of suicide.” The outlet has published two letters from her in which she described her condition and pleaded for help. It also reported that Ponomarenko is now on a dry hunger strike.
Ponomarenko is currently on trial for allegedly attacking two prison staff members who attempted to forcibly take her to a disciplinary commission. She denies the charges.