Part 5/8:
Prison life proved excruciatingly isolating, filled with psychological torment and incessant surveillance. He recounted the despairing conditions, where each day passed slowly amid high-alert paranoia about potential manipulations regarding his belongings and personal safety. Fears of planted evidence loomed large, underscoring a life in constant fear.
Days turned into weeks, and while the FSB officers initially remained vigilant, a small lifeline came when his family reached out to the American embassy, allowing him to secure legal representation. Despite winning an appeal due to procedural errors on the part of the authorities, the threat of a retrial loomed ominously, casting doubt over his freedom.