News on the topic: punitive medicine
08.03.2014 Ihar Pastnou files individual communication to UN Human Rights Committee
The complaint concerns the judgment by which he was directed to compulsory treatment in a psychiatric clinic. Ihar Pastnou believes that several articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights were violated during the trial.
25.02.2014 Case files of Belarusian dissident Mikhail Kukabaka finally declassified
Seven and a half years of walking around the courts and numerous requests to various government agencies finally brought results, thanks to the tenacity of the famous Belarusian dissident, who has been repeatedly subjected to punitive psychiatry. This month Mikhail Kukabaka received a message stating that the materials of a number of forensic psychiatric examinations of 1970 and of subsequent years had been declassified.
19.02.2014 Young Front activist appeals psychiatric abuse
Aliaksandr Latyshau from Zhlobin filed a complaint with the head of department of health of Homel Regional Executive Committee after he was referred for a psychiatric examination at a mental hospital “in connection with his earlier participation in the Young Front.”
18.12.2013 Raman Kisliak: Ales Charkashyn’s case will be continued
They had to release Ales Charkashyn, says human rights activist from Brest Raman Kisliak. The BCD activist was to be tried at 9:00. However, he was not taken to the court building an hour later, and then it became known that he was released because the judge did not consider the case due to inaccuracies in the record of the offense.
16.12.2013 Brest police detain and send to mental hospital guy who staged performance in front of Regional Executive Committee building
Ales Charkashyn was dressed as a "prophet", his hands were tied with chains and doused with red paint. It symbolized the blood of Belarusians. During the performance, the activist urged the authorities to repent for their sins against the people.
11.12.2013 Ihar Pastnou: “Probably, I will be taken to hospital again, with a “worsening of psychic illness”
Vitsebsk medician Ihar Pastnou recorded a new video message to his countrymen. He again criticizes Vitsebsk medicine for low wages, speaks of human rights violations in the light of the current law "On psychiatric care" and the need for changes in the law.
09.12.2013 Ihar Pastnou applies to the Supreme Court
Vitsebsk medic attempts to challenge the decision of the Vitsebsk District Court, which sanctioned his compulsory psychiatric treatment in the absence of Mr. Pastnou and his lawyer. The appeals to the regional court and to the head of the regional court yielded no results.
27.11.2013 Vitsebsk doctor Ihar Pastnou: Law on psychiatric care contrary to Constitution
Vitsebsk doctor Ihar Pastnou sent an application to the Constitutional Court urging the supreme judicial body to assess certain provisions of the Law "On psychiatric Care”. Ihar Pastnou believes that the law is unconstitutional, as it legitimizes violations of patients' rights.
15.11.2013 Human rights activist demands to amend the Law “On Psychiatric Care”
The new Law of the Republic of Belarus № 349-3 “On Psychiatric Care” came into force on January 7, 2012. It may seem just another bill, but it is necessary to pay special attention to some seemingly insignificant articles.
18.10.2013 Another person put to mental hospital over criticism of authorities
Valiantsin Kavalchuk, resident of Ivatsevichy district, was placed in a mental hospital for a week. After a week in hospital he was diagnosed with delusional disorder, but discharged, as no treatment was required. However, he has to remain under the supervision of a local psychiatrist.
10.10.2013 Ihar Pastnou: “Psychiatry is a very sharp weapon of the State”
Ihar Pastnou, a doctor from Vitsebsk, who was for more than a month subjected to compulsory psychiatric treatment and then was discharged to outpatient treatment, went to work a few days ago. The administration of the regional center of psychiatry and addiction transferred him to another position: now he is employed in a psychiatric clinic. He says his new job suits him, but disagrees with a diagnosis of "personality disorder".
01.10.2013 Ihar Pastnou counts on further assistance of human rights defenders
Vitsebsk physician Ihar Pastnou, who has received forced medical treatment in the regional clinical center of Psychiatry and Addiction, is going to continue to appeal against the decision of the Vitsebsk District Court which authorized the treatment. If he fails to get the justice at the national level, he will appeal his sentence at the UN Human Rights Committee.
12.09.2013 Vitsebsk Regional Court turns down the appeal of Ihar Pastnou against forced psychiatric treatment
The ruling of the judge of the Vitsebsk District Court Tatsiana Dzehtsiarova, who sanctioned the forced medical treatment of the psychiatrist Pastnou, was left standing by the Vitsebsk Regional Court. The appeal was considered closed to the public: journalists, human rights defenders and Pastnou's trustee Siarhei Ryzhou weren't admitted to it.
11.09.2013 Ihar Pastnou applies to prosecutor's office
The repressed psychiatrist wrote an appeal to the prosecutor's office and passed it to his trustee Siarhei Ryzhou so that the latter could filed it there. At present Mr. Ryzhou is prohibited to meet with Mr. Pastnou who is kept in the Vitsebsk regional center of Psychiatry and Narcology after uploading several critical video addresses on the web.
10.09.2013 Ihar Pastnou stated that he was forcibly fed medicines
On 9 September Vitsebsk activist Siarhei Ryzhou received the power of attorney giving him the right to represent the interests of the Vitsebsk psychiatrist Ihar Pastnou, signed by the medics of the Vitsebsk regional psychiatric hospital. However, several hours after it he was informed that he was prohibited to meet with Ihar Pastnou who is undergoing a course of forced medical treatment.
