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Rafael Mamedov, a 23-year-old student at Murmansk Arctic University, has attempted suicide twice while in detention. He is accused under the article on participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation (Part 2, Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code) because of a Telegram channel with memes called “Free Lapland.” This was reported by “IStories” citing his relative (link).
Mamedov made his first suicide attempt before he was detained, on 4 May 2025. A few days later, he was hospitalised at a psychiatric and neurological clinic in Murmansk, a port city in the far north of Russia, where FSB officers arrived. The student was discharged and handed over to the authorities. In the discharge notes, doctors indicated that Mamedov had been diagnosed with depression and did not rule out further suicide attempts. He also said he had “already lived his life.” However, it was noted that the young man’s condition was stable.
Mamedov tried to take his own life for a second time in September in St Petersburg, where he was taken for a forensic psychiatric examination. According to his relative, while in the “New Kresty” pre-trial detention centre, the young man “cut his neck and arms.” He received medical assistance, was sent to the psychiatric ward at “Kresty,” given an injection, and sent back to Murmansk the next morning. The examination stated that the student was “faking and sane.”
According to his relative, a third suicide attempt occurred during transfer: he tried to hang himself with a belt, but an escort officer noticed and stopped him.
In August, Mamedov was allowed to see a private psychiatrist, who prescribed him the antidepressant “Amitriptyline” and the antipsychotic “Risperidone.” “In hospital, such serious medications are issued one dose at a time, and staff make sure the patient takes them. Of course, in the detention centre this doesn’t happen. There are days when they don’t even bring the pills,” his relative added.