The legal team representing blogger Valeria Chekalina, better known as Lerchek, has revealed details about her youngest son’s health. According to her lawyers, the three-year-old boy suffered a heart contusion and pneumothorax, which required doctors to insert a drainage tube. He will remain in the hospital until at least Monday.
Because of her child’s condition, Lerchek will not be able to attend tomorrow’s court hearing, where the decision on extending her house arrest is expected. “Valeria needs to stay with her son, so she most likely won’t be present at the session,” her representatives explained.
The situation is further complicated by Chekalina’s own health issues. Sources say she has been struggling with gynecological problems that required emergency medical attention. Since she is under house arrest, she cannot receive proper treatment in a hospital, and her requests for independent doctor visits have been denied.
Her lawyers also confirmed that Lerchek has been diagnosed with Morton’s neuroma — a benign nerve thickening in the foot. The condition requires surgery and a yearly hormone injection. Instead of being treated in a medical facility, the injection was administered at home due to the restrictions of her arrest.
Adding to the controversy, her defense team criticized the investigation for delaying access to the case materials. While the prosecution is asking to extend her house arrest beyond the legal maximum for this type of case, Chekalina had requested access to all 15 volumes of the case files almost a month ago. However, investigators only provided partial access, which, according to her lawyers, shows that it is the investigation itself that is slowing the process.