English

Doctor in Vitsyebsk who openly criticized authorities sent to psychiatric hospital

A pediatrician and psychiatrist in Vitsyebsk who openly criticized the head of the Vitsyebsk Regional Executive Committee has been sent to a mental health hospital for compulsory psychiatric care.

Judge Tatsyana Dehtsyarova of the Vitsyebsk District Court ruled on Wednesday that Ihar Pastnow should receive mental health care in the regional psychiatric and addiction treatment center, human rights defender Leanid Svetsik told BelaPAN.

The judge ruled that the doctor should be barred from receiving parcels, visitors and correspondence, and from making telephone calls.

Mr. Pastnow and his lawyer did not attend the trial. The pediatrician had been taken to the hospital before the hearing.

According to Mr. Svetsik, Mr. Pastnow can appeal the order within the next 10 days, but it is unclear how he can do that considering the restrictions.

Vitsyebsk-based activist Syarhey Ryzhow said that Mr. Pastnow had gone on hunger strike to protest his placement in psychiatric care. According to the activist, Mr. Pastnow is held in an isolation ward. He is reportedly prohibited from leaving it and has no access to means of communication.

Human rights defenders said that Mr. Pastnow had been placed in compulsory psychiatric care after posting his latest video appeal critical of authorities on the Internet.

He was reportedly taken to the hospital from work on August 16.

Ironically, Mr. Pastnow used to work at the hospital. Previously, he had been fired from his job at a children's hospital after speaking out about severe underfunding for the region's health institutions and accusing Alyaksandr Kosinets, head of the regional government, of wasting public funds.